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1
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Copyright by
LAURA S. HAVILAND,
1881.
)
DEDICATION.
TO
9i ^^^ ^^^ tt^^ S^^^ ^tt^S^ttrs, aiib Jamtlies ;
ALSO TO THB
lEfnme and Ig^oitefon l^issionaiiies
ARE THBSB PAGES DEDICATED.
Hit fltttier.
. H3c'2
Copyright by
LAURA S. HAVILAND,
1881.
DEDICATION.
TO
9(2 Cbo SinnBf anb ^ont |pung^ltr0, aiib jfamilits;
ALSO TO THB
^nme bhS ^oiteisn l^issionaities
ARE THESE PAGES DEDICATED.
9tc Xutioc.
PEEFAOE.
— ♦■
In presenting the following pages to the public,
without the trace of an excellent scholar or eloquent
orator, I fully realize my inability to compete with
writers of the nineteenth century. With this incom-
petency in view, I have hesitated and defciyed until
three-score and thirteen years are closing over me.
Yet as I am still spared to toil on a little longer in
the great field so white to harvest, praying the Lord
of the harvest to arm and send forth more laborers,
because they are too few, I ask an indulgent public
to allow my deep and abiding sympathies for the
oppressed and sorrowing of every nation, cla&s, or
color, to plead my excuse for sending forth simple,
unvarnished facts and experiences, hoping they may
increase an aspiration for the actiye doing, instead
of saying what ought to be done, with excusing self
for want of ability, when it is to be found in Him
who is saying, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for
my strength is perfect in weakne&s."
LAURA a HAVILAND.
OcroBKB, 1S81.
/
^^
CONTENTS,
CHAPTER I.
BARLY LIFE.
Parentage — Early ImpressioDS — ChOdhood Skepticism —
Religious Experience — ^The Great Leveler — Marriage — Removal
to Michigan — ^The Semi-Christian — ^The Despairing Backslider
Seslored — Proscription — Witlidrawal from the Society of
Friends— Founded '' Raisin Institute," Page 9
CHAPTER II.
BBREAVBMBNTB.
Dream — Bereavements — Early Widowhood — Trials —
Dreams — Victory by Faith — A Fugitive Slave Escapes — ^Mar-
riage of two Older Children, 38
CHAPTER in.
ANTI-SLAVERY EXPERIENCES.''
Baptist Deacon Convicted of the Sin of Slavery by his
Slav. ^*- Willis Hamilton's Escape with his Slave- wife, Elsie, to
Oanada— Removal to Michigan — Whereabouts Discovered by
Ekne'e Master — Deeply Laid Scheme to Capture the Hamilton
Family— Threats of Violence — Second Attempt and Defeat —
Death of the two Slave-holders, 65
CHAPTER IV.
AN OHIO SCHOOL-TEACHER.
A Traveling Agent — Slave Claimant — John White —
Threats — ^Visit to Jane AVhitc — Interview with William Allen —
Escape of Slaves — In Suspense — Death of First-bom — Comfort-
ing Dream— John White a Prisoner— His Release and Subse-
qnart History, ^^
4 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
THB UNDERGROUND RAILWAY,
^ Two ^Ye Families Escape — Story of George and James —
A Mother and Daughter Leave a Boat lK)und for the Lower
Market — Sarah and two Young Men join our Party — Seven are
Conducted to Canada — Kaisin Institute Suspended for an Aca-
demic Year — Return to Cincinnati — Maria — Threats of her
Master — ^The Escape of two Young Men, Page 111
CHAPTER VL
FUGITIVE SLAVES ASSISTED.
Clara and Three Children Rescued — Jack Betrayed and
Returned to Bondage — A Little Nurse Girl taken from her
Owners in Cincinnati — How Zack was Saved — Calvin Fairbanks
Visited in Prison — Fugitive Slaves Forwarded, 133
CHAPTER VII.
CHRISTIAN AND EDUCATIONAL WORK.
Visiting and Nursing the Sick — Nine Slaves Arrive from
Kentucky — Richard Dillingham Dies in Tennessee Peniten-
tiary— Seven Slaves Conducted to Freedom — ^Teach Six Months
in Toledo, 162
CHAPTER VIII.
FUGITIVES IN CANADA.
Mission Among the Fugitives in Canada — Religious Re-
vival— Organization of a Christian Union Church — EfTorts of
Missourians to Retake the Fugitive Slave, William AndOrson,
from Canada — ^The Kentucky Slave-owner Whipped in the
Old Barracks in Windsor in his Effort to Decoy Three Young
Men back to Slavery — Reopening School, 192
CHAPTER IX.
RESCUE OF SLAVES.
Escape of a Slave Family of Six — A Slave Man Travels for
a White Man and Succeeds — ^Trip to Arkansas — The Story of
George Wilson— The Slave-daughter under Mortgage Released
by her Mother — Mintie Berry Purchases lier Husband — John
Brown Hanged — Tlie War Opens and takes Seventeen Students
of Raisin Institute— First Trip to the Front with Supplies, .211
\ CONTENTS. 5
CHAPTER X.
HOSPITAL WORK.
Cairo — Inddeiits Preparatory to Bemoying Freedmen's
Gamp to Island No. 10 — Death of a Child — ^Disborsing Sup-
plies and other Mission Work on the Island — Story of Uncle
Stephen — ^Hospital Visiting in Memphis, Tennessee — Sui^geon
Powers Reported— Forty Slaves come into Camp Shiloh—Seven
Slaves come from a Plantation seven miles below Memphis —
First Enlistment of Colored Soldiers — Mission Work in Colum-
bus, Kentucky — ^Young Colored Man Shot by his Young Mas-
ter—Turning of Tables — ^Return Home — Our Principal, E. A.
Haight, Enlisted, Page 245
CHAPTER XI.
SANITARY WORK.
Organized Freedmen's Relief Association — Solicit Supplies —
Academic Year Opened for 18d3-4 — Sister Backus and Self leave
for Fields of SufTering — Incidents on the Way — Mission Work in
Natchez, Mississippi — Four Hundred Slaves Hanged and other-
wise Tortured — Visit to the Calaboose — Mission Work in Baton
Rouge— Arrival at New Orleans— Sketch of Persecutions, . 279
CHAPTER XII,
MISSION WORK IN NBW^ ORLEANS.
Mission Work in New Orleans — Soldiers and Prisoners Vis-
ited on Ship Islam) —Petition of Seventy Soldier Prisoners in
behalf of Three Thoufeand of their Fellow Prisoners — Appeal in
behalf of Ship Island and Tortugas Prisoners — Mission Work at
Plaquemine — Natchez — Capture of a Rebel steamer — Arrival at
Home — Release of the Three Thousand Banished Union Sol-
diers, 320
CHAPTER Xin.
freedmen's AID COMMISSION.
Refugees in Kansas — ^Children of Want — Afflicted Family —
Scenes of Distress— Agnes Everett — Quantrell's Raid — Poor
White Trash — Hospitals — Supplies Distributed — Refugee Build-
ings— Orphan Children — Haviland Home — Thomas Lean a
Prisoner — Petition for Pardon — Pardon Granted — A Southern
Clergyman— Mission School— At Harper's Ferry and Wash-
ington, ^^
6 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIV.
HOME MISSION WORK.
Mission Work and Incidents in Washington — ^Murders —
Alexandria — Bichmond, Yii^ginia — ^Williomsbuiig — ^Fort Magru-
der — ^Yorktown — Suicide — Gloucester Court-house — Fortress
Monroe — Norfolk — Betum to Washington — ^^Vhite Woman
Whipped, Page 387
CHAPTER XV.
EZPEBIENCBS AMONG FREEDMEN.
A Soldier Prisoner—Interesting Statistics — Schools — ^Plan«
tations — ^Incidents — ^Return to Washington — ^Return Home with
Fifteen Orphans and Fifty Laborers — Change in Orphan
Asylum — ^Mission Work in Covington and Newport, Kentucky —
Mission Work in Memphis, Tennessee — ^Uncle Philip a Remark-
able Man— Return Home, 425
CHAPTER XVI.
CHBISTIAK LABOR AND RESULTS.
Work for the Asylum — Again in Washington — Mission "
Work — ^Trial of Henry Wirtz — Inspecting Soup-houses—inci-
dents connected with Kendal Green Camp — Peremptory Order
of J. R. Shipherd Closing Asylum — Children Scattered — Re-
turned Home with Authority from American Missionary Asso-
ciation to Reopen Asylum — Dangerous Fall — Restored to
Asylum Work — Overtaken with Convulsions— Answer to Prayer
in being Restored, 450
CHAPTER XVII. i
I
STATE PUBLIC SCnOOL. ^ {
Board of Directors Arrange for Closing the Home — Dis- I
couragements — Relief Comes by Sleigh-loads — Encourage-
ments— Petitions to the State Le^lature to make the Home a
State Institution — ^Petitions Granted, and the Orphan's Home
becomes the "State Public School," located at Coldwater —
Work m State Public School, 477
CHAPTER XVIII.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE FRBEDMEN.
Kansas Freed men's Relief Association — ^Testimony of Perry
Bradley — Incidents — Persecutions — Prof. G reener — Colon'd
CONTENTS. 7
Bepublicans — Further Testimony — Negro Woman Killed —
Letter from the South — ^Atrocities — ^Refugees in Kansas — Bull-
dosing — Kansas Overfull — Protection Need^d^Michael Walsh —
Silver lanings, Page 482
CHAPTER XDC
PBOSPSCTS OF THE FREEDMEX.
Supplies Furnished — ^Relief Association at Work — ^Northern
Outrages — ^Prudence Crandall — Colored Schools — Freedmen's
Aid Schools — ^Industrial and Agricultural Institute, • . • 511
njiUSTRATIONS.
PAGB.
Steel Pobtrait of the Author, Froniispiece,
The Slaveholders' Threats, 76
Slave Irons, 292
Clark University for Freedmen (Curisman Hall), . . 434
Mehab&y Medical College, 516
i
LIFE-WORK
OP
LAURA S. HAVILAND.
Chapter I.
EARLY LIFE.
At the earnest solicitation of many dear friends I Have
consented to leave on record some of tlie incidents that
have fallen under my personal observation during three-
score and ten years.
My fiither, Daniel Smith, Avas a native of Eastern New
York, and for many years an approved minister in the
Society of Friends. He was a man of ability and influ-
ence, of clear perceptions, and strong reasoning powers.
My mother, Sene Blancher, was from Vermont ; was of
a gentler turn, and of a quiet spirit, benevolent and kind
to all, and much beloved by all who knew her, and was
for many years an elder in the same Society.
It is due to my parents to say, if I have been instru-
mental, through the grace of God, to bless his poor and
lowly of earth, by adapting means to ends in relieving suf-
fering humanity, it is largely owing to their influence.
Soon after their marriage, they removed to Kitley
Township, county of Leeds, Canada West (now known as
Ontario), where I was born, December 20, 1808. I
well remember the perplexities and doubts that troubled
my young mind in trying to find the whys and wherefores
of existing &cts ; yet I was naturally a happy and playful
child. , Some remarks made by my parents over a portion
10 A woman's I4FE-WORK.
of Scripture father was reading, in which was the sen-
tence, *'and they are no more twain, but one flesh" —
''that is a close relationship; twain is two, no more two
but one flesh" — struck me with wonder and amazement.
''Yes," replied mother, "that is a oneness that is not to
be separated, a near relation between husband and wife;
'no more twain, but one flesh.' 'What God has joined
together let not man put asunder.' " It seemed as if every
word fastened upon my mind a feeling of awe at the new
thought, that father and njother were one person. " Then
they think just alike, and know all about the other, if true;
father and mother believe it, and they found it in the
Bible ; and that," I thought, "must be true. Now for the
test : If father and mother are one, they must know each
other's thoughts and whereabouts." After father had been
out a few minutes I asked mother where he was. "Not
far off*; may be he's gone to the bam." But he was not
there. At my report she said, "Perhaps he's gone to
David Coleman's, or some of the neighbort." This settled
the matter in my mind, that they were not one. But I
gave the same test to try fether, which also proved a fail-
ure. But not quite satisfied without further investigation,
I asked mother for permission to go to David Coleman's to
play an hour with his little girls. Little did she know
that the object of her little five-year-old skeptic was to
present the test to their father and mother, to see whether
they were one, and found the same result each time.
This settled the question in my mind that one thing in
the Bible was untjue. Father and mother were mistaken
in that part of the Bible that said husband and wife were ',
no more two, but one. For a long time after this, when- '
ever the Bible was referred to as authority, I would think, ■
"It may be true, and may not, because I tried one thing \\
it said that was not true."
Another mystery was hard for me to solve. In asking
mother where we should go if we should jump off* the
EARLY LIFE. 11
edge of the world, she replied, ** There is no jumping off
place, because our world is round, like a ball, and takes
one day and night to roll around, and that makes day and
night." After the little child of six years had studied over
this mysterious problem a short time, she returned with the
query, " Why do n't we drop off while underside? and why
don't the water spill out off Bates's creek and our well ? " She
xepliedy '* Water, as well as every thing else, is always kept
in place by a great law, called gravitation, that our Heav-
enly Father made when he made the world," and she said
I would understand more about it when older. But this
did not satisfy me ; I wanted to know all about it then.
As soon as father came in queries were repeated, but he
closed as mother did, that I must wait until I was older,
which made me almost impatient to be old enough to know
how these things could be.
Another subject occupied my childish mind a long time,
and was investigated to the extent of the miniature ability
I possessed. And that was the interesting &ct that I dis-
covered one bright evening while looking at the stars, that
our house was just in the middle of the world; and when
we went to grandfather's (a distance of seven miles), as
soon as it was night, I was out in the yard measuring the
distance by stars, but to my surprise, grand&ther's house
was just in the middle. For I tried it all around the
house, and went to the barn with my uncles, and could
discover no variation. Consequently I must have been
mistaken at home. But on our return I could not find by
the stars but that we were just in the center of creation.
Whenever I went with my parents to a neighbor's for an
evening's visit, my first and foremost thought was to see
1 how fiir to one side they were. But I always found my-
self just in the center of this great world ; just as grown-
up children are prone to think their own nation is ahead
in arts and sciences, of all other nations — their own State
ahead of all other States in moral and intellectual improv^
/Ifi
12 A woman's life-work.
ments — their own town or city, like Boston, the ** hub of
the universe." In fiict, we are about the center; our pets
more knowing, and our children smarter, than can be
found elsewhere. But as the study of astronomy gives
ability to look upon the vast universe of thousands of
worlds much larger than our own, revolving in their orbits,
it develops our intellectual faculties, and enables us to view
the concave appearance of the ethereal blue from a stand*
point widely differing from the occupancy of the center.
And when supreme self is melted away by faith in the
blood of the covenant, our spiritual vision becomes clearer
and our miniature minds are expanding, and we learn to
make due allowances for the ac^ and opinions of others,
that we have called peculiar, because they do not quite ac-
cord with our own usages and tastes.
In 1815 my father removed with his family to Cam-
bria, Niagara County, Western New York, then a wilder-
ness. Soon after we were settled in our new home, we
lost my baby brother Joseph, which made a deep impres-
sion upon my young heart, and gave me great uneasiness
in regard to my own future happiness, should I be taken
away. I found great relief, one day, while listening to a
conversation between father and grandfather, as to what
age children were responsible to their Creator. Father
gave his opinion that ten years, in the generality of chil-
dren, is the age that God would call them to an account
for sin. Grandfather said that was about the age he
thought children were accountable, and all children that
die previous to that age are happily saved in heaven.
" Yes," said father; ** where there is no law there is no trans-
gression." At this great relief to my troubled heart, I ran
out to play m\h my brother Harvey, to tell him how lon^
we would be safe, if we should die, for father and grand-\
father said children that died before they were ten yearsj
old would go to heaven, and I would be safe almost twi
years, and he would be safe a good while longer (as h(
EARLY LIFE. 13
was two years and a half younger tlian myself). "Oh,
yes," said he; *' and Ira will be safe a great many years,
'cause he 's little, if he should die as little Josie did." This
earliest conviction of sin yanished like the morning cloud.
This idea was so deeply embedded in my young mind, that
whenever I heard of a child's death, my first inquiry was
/or its age. If under ten, I was at ease over its safety ;
but if over ten years, I was distressed unless I could hear
of some words from the one taken away, that would indi-
cate a preparation for the change of worlds. The vivid-
ness of those early childhood impressions are frequent re-
minders of the importance of giving clear explanations to
children, in r^ard to important religious truths, as their
young hearts are much more impressible than is generally
conceded.
EARLY IMPRESSIONS OP SLAVERY AND RELIGION.
During the first six years in our new home, there was
no school within three miles of us, and all the privilege we
enjoyed of this kind was a spelling lesson given daily to
three of us, the two little girls of our nearest neighbor and
myself. Our mothers pronounced the words for us alter-
nately, at* their house and ours. In this way we spelled
our book through a number of times. This privilege, with
four months in school previous to leaving Canada, proved a
great blessing. As I possessed an insatiable thirst for knowl-
edge, I borrowed all the easy readers I could find in the
neighborhood. I was especially interested in memoirs of
children and youth, which increased my irequent desire to
become a Christian. I wished to read every book that
came ^vithin my reach. I read a few of fathers books,
designed for more mature minds. I became deeply inter'^
csted in John Woolman's history of the slave-trade, of the
jdpture and cruel middle passage of negroes, and of the
Ihou^ands who died on their voyage and were thn)wn into
:he sea to be devoured by sharks, that followed the slave-shir
14 A woman's life-work.
clay after day. The pictures of these crowded slave-ships,
with the cruelties of the slave system after they were
brought to our country, often affected me to tears ; and I
often read until the midnight hour, and could not rest un-
til I had read it twice through. My sympathies became
too deeply enlisted for the poor negroes who were thus en-
slaved for time to effiice.
The third or fourth I had ever seen of that race was
an old man called JJncle Jeff. He seemed to serve any
one who called upon him for chores, in our little village
cf Lockport, that grew up as by magic upon the Erie
Canal. Uncle Jeff was frequently employed by merchants
to cry off their stale articles on the street At one time
the old man, whose head was almost as white as wool, was
crying, '' Gentlemen and ladies' black silk stockin's of all
colors for sale," holding them up to view as he passed
along the street, followed by a group of bqgrs crying out,
"Nigger, nigger," and throwing grass and clay at him.
At length he turned to these half-grown boys, looking very
sad, as he said, "Boys, I am just as God made me, an'
so is a toad." At this the boys slunk away ; and I felt
very indignant in seeing the men who were standing near
only laugh, instead of sharply reproving those ill-behaved
children.
Another colored man, named Ben, came to our town
with a iamUy who opened an inn. He waa employed
mostly in the kitchen, and while Ben was asleep on the
kitchen floor, some rude boys put a quantity of powder in
the back of his pants, and placing a slow match to it left
the room, but watched the process of their diabolical sport
through a window, and soon saw their victim blown up, it
was said, nearly to the ceiling. His hips and body wer^
so badly burned that he was never able to sit or stoop aft^r!
this wicked act. He always had to walk with a cane, ai.
whenever too weary to stand, w^as compelled to lie down,!
as his right hip and lower limb were stiffened. Yet littlqj
EARLY LIFE. 15
notice was taken of this reckless act, but to feed and poorly
clothe this life-long cripple, as he went from house to house,
because he was of that crushed and neglected race.
RELIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS AND EXPERIENCE
In the Autumn of my thirteenth year, with our parents'
permission, brother Harvey and I attended a little prayer-
meeting at our Uncle Ira Smith's house, near by. Here
was singing, experiences given, with prayer and exhorta-
tions, in which young people, as well as those more ad-
vanced in years, took part. All this was new to mc, hav-
ing never attended any other meeting than of Friends, usu-
ally called Quakers. My father being a minister and
mother an elder in that denomination, they were very
conscientious in training their children in all the usages, as
well as principles, of that sect. At this Methodist prayer-
meeting a young girl, but little older than myself, related
her experience, and prayed so earnestly for her young as-
sociates, that it took a deep hold on my mind ; and on my
way home, on that beautiful evening, I resolved to seek the
Lord until I could know for myself that my sins were for-
given. Oh, how I wished I was a Christian, as was Han-
nah Bosworth. She was so young, and yet she told us
how earnestly she sought the Lord, and found Jesus so
precious in the forgiveness of her sins. It was said in that
meeting that God was no respecter of i^ersons, and that I
had read in the Bible; and then Jesus had said, ''Suffer
Jittle children to come unto me, and forbid them not;"
''and now, this very night, I vnll begin to seek the Lord,
and I never will give up trying, if it takes as long as I
/live, until I receive an evidence that I am the Lord's child.
ll want to realize that peace and joy those men and women
lexpressed in that meeting." As all had retired, I placed
l[a candle in my brother's hand, and hurried him to bed,
'I that I might know positively that no human car could
listen to my first attempt to address my Heavenly Father
16 A woman's life-work.
I kuelt for the first time in my life, in the rear of our
corn crib, but no words could I find for prayer, and a feel-
ing of fear came over me, and I arose to my feet. I
looked all around me, but no one was in sight; naught but
trees and shrubs of the garden below, and the ethereal blue,
bedecked with the beautiful moon and sparkling stars, above.
Is it possible that He who created this beautiful world can
notice a little girl like me? And the thought occurred
that I had better wait until I was older. But the remarks
to which I had just listened came vividly before me, and
I renewed my resolve to pray to Him who had said, ** Suf-
fer little children to come unto me," and again knelt for
prayer; but that feeling of fear increased, until it seemed
as if some one was about to place a hand upon my shoul-
der, and I again found myself on my feet. But as no one
was in sight, I queried whether this was not the enemy of
my soul, to keep me firom prayer, and fell upon my knees
a third time, determined to remain in the position of prayer
until my first petition to my Heavenly Father was pre-
sented. And the prayer of the publican was repeated
over and over again, ** Grod be merciful to me a sinner."
These words above all others seemed just for me. I was
a sinner, and mercy was what I wanted. I returned to
the house with a still more fixed resolve to continue ask-
ing, with a firmer purpose never to give over until the evi-
dence of pardoning love was mine. As I retired, I knelt by
my bedside, and repeated the same prayer, with a few addi-
tional words, imploring the aid of the Holy Spirit to teach
me the way of life, and penitential tears began to flow. Be-
fore I slept my pillow was wet with tears, and was turned
for a dry place. As I was reading the Bible through by ^
course, it became more of a companion than ever before. '
The next grayer-meeting was attended, and as they l
knelt during the season of prayer I felt an impression to i,
kneel with them. But the cross was very great and I did
not yield. I thought if I did so it would be reported to
i
EABLY LIFE, 17
my parents, and they would probably forbid my coming to
these little meetings, which I so highly prized. But this
was unprofitable reasoning, increasing the burden instead
of bringing the relief sought. I wept on my way home, and
in my evening supplication renewed my promise to be more
&ithful, let others do or say what they would, if the like
impression was ever again experienced. With permission
I attended the next prayer-meeting at my uncle's, and, as
if to test my &ithfulness, two young women of my inti-
mate associates came in, and sat one on each side of mc.
At the first season of prayer, as I did not have that im-
pression, I felt quite at ease, and thankful to my Father
in heaven for excusing me. But the next united suppli-
cation, I felt that I must unite with them in kneeling, and
while one tried to pull me up by the arm, with saying
"I'd be a little dunce if I was in thy place," the other
sister pinched the other arm, ''Now, Laura Smith, be a
little Methodist, will thee? I 'd be ashamed if I was thee;
every body will make fun of thee." But I kept -my posi-
tion and made no reply, but secretly prayed for strength
in my great weakness. But my fears were fully realized.
It was at once reported that Laura Smith would be a Meth-
odist if allowed by her parents. And for a long time no
permission was given to attend those little prayer-meetings,
my parents assigning this reason : ''This Methodist excite-
ment is unprofitable, especially for children. They have
an overheated zeal, that is not according to knowledge, and
we do not think it best for thee to attend ; we want our
children at a suitable age to be actuated by settled prin-
ciple, not mere excitement" This reasoning by my dear
father strongly tempted me to give up my resolutions al-
together. Until I was eighteen I felt no liberty whatever
in unburdening my troubled heart to my dear parents.
( They were unacquainted with the longings of my poor soul.
*Like the lone sparrow upon the house-top, I mourned m«iny
/weeks, sought the solitary place for reading my Bible, and
■J o
I
18 A woman's life-work.
prayer; often watered my pillow with tears, and longed
for the day, and during the day longed for the night, in
which I might pour out my sorrows to my Heavenly
Father out of sight of human eye. I was conscious that
my sadness was troubling my dear parents. Oh I how I
prayed for light to dispel this darkness and doubt — some-
times ready to conclude that, as it was my duty to obey
my parents, the Lord would excuse me in waiting until I
was of age. Yet in reading the many precious promises
of the Lord Jesus, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest;" "Seek, and ye
shall find," I found fresh courage. But why do I not find
this rest for this weary heart? Why do I not find the
way to seek for the hidden treasure I so much longed for?
These queries were continually revolving in my mind, with-
out a satisfactory solution. Sometimes I almost concluded
that God was too good to send the beings he created for his
own glory to perdition to all eternity, and all would ulti-
mately be saved; at other times, I could not reconcile
universal salvation with the parable of Lazarus and the ^
rich man, and was ready to conclude that salvation was for
the elected few, and there were those who could not be
saved, and I was among the lost. In one of these seasons
of almost despair, I ventured to attend a Methodist meet-
ing held in a private house, in company with my uncle.
Being at his house, I did not go home for permission. The
minister was a plainly dressed man ; the opening hymn was
new to me, but every line seemed especially for me :
" God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform."
It was read and sung in an impressive manner. The
fourth stanza seemed specially suited to my case :
" Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace ;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.''
EARLY LIFE. 19
•
This gave new light, new courage, and fresh hope sprang
lip, like streaks of the morning sunbeam in the Eastern
sky, preluding the full blaze of the orb of day. The prayer
and the text upon which he based his remarks were all
flowing in the same channel. The exhortation was to the
discouraged and despairing soul to remember that the
darkest time of night was just before the break of day, a
remark I had never before heard. I returned home stronger
than ever before, and ventured to tell mother of the good
sermon preached by Isaac Pufler. But she was again
troubled, and reminded me of those we read of in Scrip-
ture, who would compass sea and land to gain one prose-
lyte, that when gained, '^ were twofold more the child of
hell than themselves." She also said that my uncles would
be weU pleased to have me go with them. I assured her that
neither of my four Methodist uncles liad ever intimated a
word to me on the subject. ''But," said she, ''actions
sometimes speak louder than words." This was not de-
signed to discourage me, but darker than ever was the
cloud of unbelief that filled my heart. Was Isaac Pufler
a child of hell ? then there is nothing in religion, with any
body. It was all a farce — all mere "overheated zeal, not
according to knowledge." All mere "religious excitement."
I weU-nigh distrusted all religion, and father's and mother's
religion was the same as others, of no value. I had
groped my way in midnight darkness, trying to find the
true way, when there was none. In this despairing state,
while on my way to my grandfather's on an errand, I halted
to listen to the mournful notes of the forest birds at my
left; I looked upon the field of waving grain at my right,
and burst into a flood of tears as I exclaimed, Oh, what a
sin-stricken world is this! Every head of wheat is bowed
in mourning with poor me! Is there no balm in Gilead?
9S there no physician there to heal this sin-stricken world,
is sin-sick soul of mine ? Like a flash the answer came,
es, Jesus is that balm ; he shed his own precious blood
20 A woman's life-work.
for inc on Cj^lvary, that I might live now, and for ever-
more! Yes, the healing balm is applied, and I am saved!
Oh, what a fountain is opened for cleansing! My peace
was like an overflowing river. It seemed as if I could
almost live without breathing — ^mj tears were brushed
away by the breath of heaven. I stood a monument of
amazing mercy, praising God with every breath. All na-
ture praising, instead of mourning as it did a few moments
before. O, how changed the scene ! The bicds now sent forth
their notes of praise ! The leaves of the forest clapped
their hands for joy, and the branches waved with praise!
Every head of wheat was now bowed in sweet submission.
O, what a leveling of all nations of the earth was this
baptism. I had been prejudiced against the Irish people,
as I never had seen one of that nation until they came to
our town, Lockp<3rt (as it was then called), by hundreds,
to work on the Erie canal, that ran through a part of
father's &rm; and as they were frequently passing our
house drunk, I was afraid of them. But now every soul
seemed so precious, I thought I could toil all my life long
if I could become instrumental in bringing one soul to the
Savior who died to save sinners, though tliey might be the
greatest drunkards in that or any other nation. Jesus shed
his blood to redeem all who would by faith accept solva-
tion so freely offered. The African and Indian races were
alike objects of redeeming love. That was a fathomless
fountain. After spending a little time in this reverie, I
went from this hallowed place to accomplish my errand,
and met a neighbor, who looked at me earnestly and said,
"Laura, what's the matter? are you sick?" **0, no;
I 'm not sick," and hurried on. And the first greeting I
received from grandfather was the same query, who re-
ceived the same reply. I left for home as soon as the '
errand was accomplished, but as I was passing out of the,
door I met my Uncle Americus with the same query, wliQf
also received the same answer. Oh, how I wished fether^
EABLY LIFE. 21
and mother could understand me, and the overwhelming
sorrow I had waded through in search of this satisfying
portion.
If any little difierences arose among my younger
hrothers and sister, all melted away with a word from me.
This unalloyed peace remained with me a number of days,
and when the time arrived for the appointed prayer-meet-
ing at Uncle Ira's, I had a great desire to attend it, and
hoped, by asking for perihission to go, mother might ask
for my reason. In this I was disappointed with a denial.
However, I continued to pray to Him who owned me as
his child, to prepare the way in his own time. My anxiety
increased to do something for n:y dear Savior, who indeed
was chief among ten thousand. I could drop a few words
here and there, but with great timidity, but nothing of my
experience in this new life ; that was hid with Christ in God.
I was auKious to attend that little prayer-meeting, where
my mind first was arrested on the subject of my soul's best
interests. I often dreamed of earnestly praying or exhort-
ing in that prayer-meeting, and would awaken myself in
the exercise. I had a longing desire to invite to this gos-
pel feast others, especially my young associates.
As Isaac Puffer had an appointed meeting at a brother
Crane's, half a mile distant, on Sabbath at four o'clock
P. M,, I asked father for permission to attend, hoping
thereby to find liberty to open my pent-up feelings to my
dear parents, who so little understood me. But my hopes
were vain. Father said, in reply, "Laura, I want thee
never to ask me to go to a Methodist meeting again."
O, what a blow was this for my trembling frame ! The
door closed more tightly than ever before. Not one word
could I utter. I left the room, to find my old resort in
the grove, to weep bitter tears of disappointment. But
idely diflferent was this burden, now resting upon my
irt, from that mountain weight of sin and transgrcj^siou
[ome a few weeks previously. T read a few days Ixjforr
22 A woman's life-wohk.
of the baptism of the Lord Jesus, our perfect pattern.
But he came to fulfill. Then I read of Philip and the
apostles who baptized after his ascension ; and to my young
and limited understanding I accepted the water baptism as
an outward acknowledgment of the saving baptism of the
Holy Ghost. I fully believed I had received the spiritual
baptism, but I greatly desired to follow the Lord Jesus
wherever he might lead. I read ** Barclay's Apology" on
that subject; yet my ohildhood mind dwelt much on what
I read in these Bible examples. But to no human being
did I present these impressions. And I also found the ex-
ample of singing, that I believed was vocal, as I read,
"And they sang a hymn and went out." And it seemed
right, for the present, for me to unite with the Methodists,
were it not for the opposition of my parents, that I felt
sure would not exist could they but understand me. It
also seemed clearly impressed upon my mind thftt, if my
mind should become clear to unite with that branch of the
Christian Church, it would be for eighteen or twenty years
at longest. But why not always be my place, if it is my
duty now? was a query that I much dwelt upon. I ear-
nestly prayed that God would send Caleb McComlKjr to us,
an intimate friend of my parents, and a noted miuister
among Friends.
Within a week my heart leaped for joy at the an-
nouncement by my fether that Caleb McCombcr was in
the neighborhood.
**What has brought him here at this time? His
brother (Dr. Smitli) is all right; he has made no trouble
of late in drink in j.%" resix)nded mother,
** I do not know, I am sure, what has induced him to
come here at this time, as tlicre is no meeting of business
on hand, for him to take this j:)urney of nearly a hundred
miles to attend," rejoined father. |
Ah, the T^nl l.iis heard and answered prayer! IV*
has heard the cry of this poor child. ** Bless the Lord, iy
CALEB McCOMBER'S SERMON. 23
my soul, aud forget not all his benefits." I could, mth
David, praise him with a full heart, and sought a lone
place to return thanksgiving and praise to him who had so
signally answered my petition, and was confident that the
same All-«eeing Eye and Directing Hand would prepare
the way for the desired interview.
The following day being the Sabbath, we listened to a
sermon by Caleb McComber that was thought very singular
at that day for a Friend. His text was 1 Corinthians xii,
6 and 7; ''And there are diversities of operations, but it
is the same God which worketh all in all." He referred to
the diversities of denominations, that were as families com-
podng the one true Church. And in this diversity of
operations there were those whose impressions of duty
were clearly given in regard to complying with outward
ordinances, water baptism and the Lord's-supper ; and if
these impressions were not complied with, a loss would be
Bostained in spiritual life. And he exhorted to faithfulness
in obe}'ing our Lord and Master. This discourse apixiarcd
as directly addressed to this trembling child as did that
of Isaac PufiTer.
At the close of the meeting, said one of the elders to
another, ** Did thou ever hear just such a sermon from a
Friend? I thought it sounded like a Presbyterian dis-
course." Said another: *'What ails Caleb to-day. I
thought he preached like a Methodist." While these re-
marks were made I felt confident we had listened to a
message from the Great Head of the true Church by his
servant.
As he dined with our nearest neighbor, in comimuy
with his half-brother. Dr. Isaac Smith, and wife, we all
walked in company nearly to our home, aud the two
young women invited me to call. I accepted, with the
excuse, for a drink of water (hoping for an opportunity
of telling that good man that T desired to have a talk with
him, and for that purpose would call after dinner).
1
24 A woman's i.ife-work.
But while waiting for the glass of water, said Caleb
McCk)mber, " Child, how old art thou?**
The reply was, ** Thirteen."
''I want thee to tell thy father and mother to come
here at three o'clock this afternoon, and I want thee to
come with them."
I gladly performed my errand, and at three P. M. we
were there. After a little space of silence he addressed
the heads of families present, then directed his remarks to
us (the two young women and myself), at first rather
general. Then he said : " I want to say to one of you that
thou hast passed through an experience far beyond thy
years ; thou hast known what it was to ask for deliverance
from sorrow and darkness, and thou hast also known what
it was to receive the answer of peace from thy Heavenly
Father that the world knows not of. Hold fast that thou
hast received, that no man take thy crown. Be faithful
in the little, and more will be given. Bear in mind that
little things are little things, but to be faithful in little
things is something great."
With exhortations to faithfulness and encouragement,
this was to me an undoubted evidence that He whose ear
is ever open to the cry of his children had most signally
answered prayer in this clear and definite searching of my
heart. Very near and dear was that faithful nursing-
father brought to this little child's heart. With all free-
dom, I could have related to him the obstacles that appeared
in the way of duty with me. But at that hour my feelings
were too deep for utterance. Instead of remaining longer,
as was my impression, I retunied home with my parents,
with the view of returning for a more private interview
when I could better command my feelings.
When about to return, I began to reason over the pro-
priety of going back. Certainly that good man had said
all I could ask, both in his sermon and in the religious
opportimity in the family. And now there might Ije danger
i
/
EARLY LIFE. 25
of going too far. And there are those two young women,
who made sport of me in that prayer-meeting, where I
knelt while others led in prayer. Now they would make
more sport than ever, as there are so many there I could
not speak to him without their knowing it, and 1 shrank
from going. I feared John Bunyan's " lions in the way ;"
but if I had been faithful I would have found them chained,
as were his. For it was hard for me to give up the more
private interview, as I was very anxious to secure an in-
terview between that minister and my dear parents, as I
was sure he understood me much better than they. But
I neglected my duty in this. O, how weak waa human
nature!
I had previously thought I would never again offend
my loving Savior, but would follow him through evil as
well as good report. O, how precious his cleansing blood
appeared to me! It seemed as if the drops that fell in his
agony in the Garden of Gethsemane possessed power to
deanse a world of sin and pollution. Tet I was not &ith-
ful in the little. Although my parents never after forbade
my gomg to a Methodist or any other meeting, yet I saw it
grieved them as I frequently attended those prayer-meet-
ings, but never to the neglect of our own, and was often
impressed to speak or offer prayer, but did not yield. I
found, to my sorrow, that these omissions produced poverty
of soul, and often cried, *' O, my leanness! my leanness!''
In secret many tears were shed over the loss of that joy
that had been my experience.
Little by little the candle of the Lord that shone so
brightly became dim, and at the close of one year I sought
the society of the gay and mirthful, more efibctually to
drown my bitter regrets for having turned aside from the
path so clearly marked out for me. I fully realized that
the dark cloud ovei*shadowing me was the result of diso-
bedience.
In company with a few of my companions, I attend^
3
26 A woman's life-work.
the fxineral of an infant in our town. The servioe wajs
conducted by a Baptist minister, who had just come into
the place. There was nothing in his remarks that attracted
my special attention. After the meeting closed, and people
were leaving, the minister passed on a little distance, and
turned back, as if something had been forgotten. Pressing
through the crowd, he ascended the porch, and came directly
to me, looking earnestly at me, as he reached his hand for
mine, saying :
'* I felt as if I could not leave this place without asking
this young woman a few questions. Have you ever expe-
rienced religion?"
This came upon me like a dap of thunder, he, being
an entire stranger, asking a question I never had occasion
to answer. I hesitated, as I had never intimated a word
of my experience to any human being. My first thought
was to deny, but like a flash came the words of Jesus,
''He that denieth me before men, him will I also deny
before my Father and his holy angels. ** No ; I can not —
I win not, though I die. With this thought I frankly
replied :
** I think I have."
" Do you now enjoy it?"
" I do not."
This relieved me from the dilemma of being a disgrace
to the cause of Christ, as a number of my gay companions
were with me, also those Christian young people to whom
I had listened with interest in prayer and exhortations.
But searching remarks from him followed. Still holding
my hand, he said :
" You have known of earnest pleading for the pardon
of sin; and you have known what it was to rejoice, as
your prayers were answered. You have known your
duty, and did it not, and have brought yourself into
darkness. Do not occupy this dangerous ground longer,
^^tum to your first love. Do your first work over ; and
I
EAKLY LIFE. 27
He who is abundant in mercy will again accept you. May
God grant his blessing upon you I Good bye."
And he left me bathed in tears.
These earnest words reopened the many wounds that
many n^lected duties had made. I could not doubt but
Elder Winchell was as truly sent from God to deliver this
message as was Caleb McComber, for whom I prayed in
my distress. But now the Holy Spirit had sought me out,
unasked for, to warn me of the danger in the effort to oc-
cupy neutral ground, as I had concluded to do until I was
of age. I saw more clearly that I was responsible to my
Savior, who had done great things for me, whereof I did
rejoice with exceeding great joy.
Again my Bible became my daily companion, with
prayer for my Savior^s directing hand. But my parents
were again troubled, as those first impressions returned in
full force. I intimated my condition of mind to my par-
ents, but, with my natural timidity, not as freely as I ought.
They still attributed these impressions to the influence
of my Methodist uncles, and considered their duty was
to place these restraints upon their child. Father and
mother had requested to become members of the Friends'
Society while three of their children were under seven
years, and requested for us, making us equivalent to
birthright members, according to the usage of our So-
cietv. From the time of my Christian experience, I was
never in sympathy with the system of birthright member-
ship. I believed it to be a source of weakness, instead of
spiritual life in this or any other Christian body, and that
all members of the Church militant should become united
by a heartrfelt experience. I fuUy realized the loss I was
warned to shun by yielding to the earnest desires of my
dear parents, who were conscientious in their restraint.
They said, in after years, that they were laboring under a
mistake, as was their timid child, in not more faithfully
following those early impressions of duty. I was not MV'
28 A woman's life-work.
ful in the little, consequently more was withheld. My great
mistake was the lack of faith, in not fully returning to my
Father's house, where the little wandering prodigal would
have been received, and the new best robe again granted,
and the rough way would have been made smooth, and
the impassable mountain that seemed to rise so high would
have melted away before the life-giving beams of the Sun
of righteousness. But I yielded to my timidity, and the
conclusion was reached to live a quiet Christian life,*with
my BiUe and secret communing with my dear Lord and
Savior in secret prayer, as I could not give up a strictly
religious life. But dimly did the lamp of life bum, com-
pared with its former brightness.
.y^ The greatest source of retrograding in the divine life is
unfaithfulness in the performance of known duty. Many
of the clouds that overshadow us we bring by withholding
more than is meet, and it tends to poverty of soul. The
talent committed to our charge is to be occupied, and is
always doubled when occupied by its possessor ; but, as I
saw many in whom I had confidence as living a quiet
Christian life — and this was more congenial to my natural
feeling — ^I reached the conclusion to make my Bible and
secret prayer my companions as long as I lived, and a
Christian life in the Society of my parents' choice.
At the early age of sixteen I became acquainted with
Ciiarles Haviland, Jr., a young man who was acquainted
with the Savior's pardoning love, whose father and mother
were both acknowledged ministers in the Society of
Friends. From him I accepted a proposition of marriage,
and on the 3d of 11th month, 1825, our marriage was con-
summated at Friends' Meeting, in Lockport, Niagara
County, New York, according to the usage of Friends.
The following Spring we commenced housekeeping in our
own home, in Royalton Township, nine miles east of Lock-
l)ort, and my dear parents and family removed to Mich*
•"an Territory. Although parting from them was severe,
EARLY LIFE. 29
yet with my young and devoted husband I was contented
and happy as was possible to be, with so many reminders
of the cloud that rested over me in my spiritual horizon,
with all my constant striving for its removal. Phoebe
Field, an eminent minister among Friends, appointed a
meeting in our neighborhood, in which she dwelt upon
the necessity of receiving daily nourishment from the
true and living Vine to become fruit-bearing branches, and
remarked that there were those whose religious experience
seomed divergent from the manner in which they were
brought up, and through unfaithfulness had well-nigh lost
sight of the highway of holiness, in the mistaken view of
neutrality, when there was not an inch of such ground all
the way from years of responsibility to the grave. We are
gathering with Christ or scattering abroad. This earnest
discourse so clearly defined my own condition, that I re-
newed my many broken vows, and tras almost persuaded to
yield the unsubdued will, and hope was indulged that the
Father of unbounded mercy, in his illimitable love, would
again reveal himself in breaking the bread of life.
September, 1829, we removed to Michigan Territory,^
and settled in Kaisin, Lenawee County, within three miles
of my parents, brothers, and sister, with our two little
sons, to share with others the privations of a new country,
as well as advantages of cheap land. As there were a
number of our Society in this vicinity, a Friends* Meeting
was organized, in which we all liad an mterest, and en-
deavored to maintain it in the usual order of our Society.
But no true peace was mine, I was still a wanderer from
the true Church militant. I once knew the good Shep>
herd's voice, but was now too far away to recognize it. In
these sad remembrances I sought a subterfuge behind
which to hide in a false rest. Eagerly I read a book on
that subject, and drank its plausible arguments without
stint It was a panacea, a temporary opiate to quiet the
vacillating condition of a restless mind ; yet my Bible v
30 A woman's life-work.
not laid aside, and many portions of Scripture were vig-
ilantly brought to prove this specious error to be a radical
truth ; and two years in this dead faith I lived a dying
life. But I found my investigations were not for the whole
truth, but was dwelling upon the love and benevolence of
God to the exclusion of justice as an attribute of the Lord,
as well as mercy, and decided to accept the whole truth,
and abide its searchiugs ; and sought for it in the written
Word diligently, as for hidden treasures. In reading
Paul's epistle to the Hebrews, chapter vi, I found, *'It is
impossible for those who were once enlightened and have
tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of
the Holy Ghost, and have tasted of the good Word of
Grod, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall
fall away, to renew them again to repentance, seeing they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him
to an open shame." Oh, how these words thrilled my
whole beiugl Again and again they were reviewed. No
hope! no hope for a lost soul like mine I were like burn-
ing coals upon my poor heart. I was once enlightened
and tasted of the heavenly gift ; but how dark have been
these years. Oh I how soon did the lamp of life become
dim through disobedience. I can never again drink of that
fountain of love that once filled my soul to overflowing.
But I had fallen away, and could never again be renewed,
having crucified to myself the Son of God afresh, and put
him to an open shame, by not honoring such a glorious
Redeemer, as was my own personal Savior. 0, what de-
lusion I to have indulged in the vain hope that I was serv-
ing him in a silent, quiet life, and then cover over all this
unrest with the idea that God was too abundant in mercy
to cast off any fi)r whom he died to save. Day and night
this terrible thought followed me for months, "I am a lost
soul ! irretrievably lost. No hope I Eternally lost !"
As I had never intimated to my dear companion the
-filiating condition of mind, and the effort in finding rest.
1
EARLY LIFE. 31
neither should he be troubled with the knowledge that his
wife was a lost soul ; neither should our little ones on ar-
riving to years of religious understanding ever know that
their mother was a lost soul. The midnight hour often
witnessed many bitter tears of regret over the awful
thought. So near perfect despair, I looked upon beast,
bird, or even the most loathsome reptile, and grudged
their happiness of living and dying without responsibility.
These sad forebodings seriously affected my health, and my
anxious husband and parents feared some serious disease
was preying upon me. I sometimes thought the sooner I
sank into the grave the better, as my doom must be met.
0, that I could but claim the privilege of the prodigal, in
returning to the Father's house, and of being accepted,
though a great way off. O that I never had been bom !
O that I had followed that loving Savior s voice, so often
clearly heard. It is now too late, too late! O that I had
returned to my first love when within my reach. But I
rejected the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and justly am I
now rejected. In this distressing despair I opened a little
book — the Christian experience of one whose exercises of
mind traced through my own experience, even to my pres-
ent despairing state, as nearly as I could have related it
in my own words. Through the instrumentality of a sim-
ilar experience in another, who was restored and was long a
useful Christian, I was encouraged to return, and found
the healmg balm. Never can I forget the thrill of joy
that ran through my whole being as I laid aside that little
book. I saw that I had misapprehended the meaning of
the passages of Scripture that seemed to descibe my condi-
tion, and that served to confirm my despair. I saw that
those referred to, had so &r fallen, and so often rejected
the Holy Spirit's teachmgs, as not to realize their condi-
tion, and therefore lost sight of the necessity of a Redeemer.
This was not, nor ever had been, my condition. Then
I read Esau's seeking the blessing, ''carefully with tears'*
/
32 A woman's life-work.
that I hod also loDg dwelt upon as my condition. Here,
too, was a vivid thought, that he sought the lost blessing
to subserve self, instead of glorifying God. Here the
bright star of hope pierced through the cloud. Is it pos-
sible that I can go with confidence to that Father who has
BO long borne with this unbelieving, doubting, rebellious
child? Why has he not cut off this cumberer of the ground
long ago? His long-suffering and unbounded mercy, O
how free I how unfathomable ! With many tears of grati-
tude, mingled with new hope, new aspirations, the bright
beam of day radiating from every promise, I could now
fully accept the Lord Jesus as my mediator and restorer.
By faith, I could fully trust the poor prodigal in his hand.
O, what losses we sustain through unbelief. I have felt
most easy in leaving my experience on record, as a warn-
ing to young Christians to shun the depth of despair into
which I sank through unfaithfulness and unbelief. **By
grace ye are saved, through faith." Increasing faith,
strength, and peace, with restored health, was my rich
experience.
ANTI-SLAVERY WORK.
^ Our family, with others, united with Elizabeth Mar-
garet Chandler, who organized in our neighborhood the
first anti-slavery society in our State. This was unsatis-
&ctory to the ruling portion of our Society, as it had
cleared its skirts many years ago by emancipating all
slaves within its pale. Elizabeth M. Chandler was of the
Hicksite division of Friends, and as Presbyterians and
other religious denominations came into our anti-slavery
society, meetings were frequently opened with prayer, and
that was thought to be ''letting down the principles of
ancient Friends." And the subject of slavery was con-
sidered too exciting for Friends to engage in, by many
Friends of that day. I began to query whether it would
not be a relief to me, and also to my friends, to become
'^connected with Uiat body, as I saw clearly my path of .
I
EABLY LIFE. 33
duty would not be in accordaDce with the generality of
oar Society. After making it a subject of earnest prayer,
I became settled as to the course to pursue, and coucluded
to unburden my heavy heart to my parents as I had done
to my beloved companion, which I did after our Sabbath
meeting. We mingled our tears togetlier. Father referred
to the same proscribing spirit they exercised over me in
my early experience, that was now exercised over them.
Father and mother wished me to defer sending in my re-
quest to become disconnected with our Society, as they,
too, might think best to pursue the same course. This
was a severe trial for each of us. Father had been an
acknowledged minister of the Gospel nearly thirty years,
and mother occupied the station of an elder nearly the
same time. We, too, had become active members in this
branch of the Chrbtian Church. But the conclusion was
fuUy reached within two' months after our little confereuce
over this important step, and the following letter of resig-
nation was sent to our business meeting:
"We, the undersigned, do say there is a diversity of
sentiment existing in the Society on the divine authority
of the Holy Scriptures, the resurrection of the dead, and
day of judgment, justification by faith, the effect of
Adam's &11 upon his posterity, and the abolition of slavery,
which has caused a disunity amongst us ; and there being
no hope of a reconciliation by investigation, ministers be-
ing told by ruling members that there is to be no other
test of the soundness of their ministry but something in
their own breasts, thus virtually denying the Holy Scrip-
tures to be the test of doctrine; — we, therefore, do wish
quietly to withdraw from the Monthly Meeting, and thus
resign our right of membership with the Society of
Friends."
This resignation was signed by Daniel Smith, Sene
Smith, Charles Haviland, Juu., Laura S. Haviland, £ze-
kiel Webb, Sala Smith, and fourteen others. A few r
34 A woman's life-work.
turned, but the greater united with other Christian bodies.
A few months after this there was a division in the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, on account of slavery. They
were called Wesleyan Methodists. As this branch of our
Father's family was the nearest our own views, we were
soon united with them. Our testifications from Friends
were said by other denominations to be sufficient to be ac-
cepted as Church letters, as our ofienses named therein
were "non-attendanfce of meetings for discipline, and at-
tending meetings not in accordance with the order of our
Society." This was the import of nearly or quite all who
were disowned of our company. At that day, all were
dealt with as ofienders, and were regularly disowned, as
our discipline at that time made no provisions for with-
drawals. About a year after this, the yearly meeting of
Friends in Indiana divided on the subject of slavery. No
slavery existed in the society ; yet its discussion was deemed
improper, and created disunity sufficient for severing that
body for a number of years, when they were invited to re-
turn, without the necessity of acknowledgments.
About this time we* opened a manual labor school on
our premises, designed for indigent children. With that
object in view, we took nine children from our county
house (Lenawee), and I taught them, with our four chil-
dren of school age, four hours each day. The balance of
the day was divided for work and play. The girls I taught
house-work, sewing, and knitting. The boys were taken
into the farm work by my husband and brother Harvey
Smith. As our county superintendents of the poor gave
us no aid, we found our means insufficient to continue our
work on this plane. After one year of this work we se-
cured homes for the nine children, except two invalids, |
who were returned to the county house. We then placed j
our school on a higher plane, on the Oberlin plan of open- ^t
'ng the school for all of good moral character, regardless oi I
X or color. At that day (1837) there was not a school <
/ 1
RAISIN INSTITUTE. 35
in OUT young State that would open its door to a colored ^
person. And as my brother, Harvey Smith, had attended
the Oberlln Institute, he united with us in this enterprise,
and sold his new farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and
upended what he had in erecting temporary buildings to .
accommodate about fifty students. The class of students
was mostly of those designing to teach. Our principals
were from Oberlin during the first twelve years of the
*' Baisin Institute." The first three years it was conducted
by P. P. Koots and his wife, Anna B., M'ho were excellent
Christians. When they left, to open a similar institution
at West Point, Leo County, Iowa, John Patchin became
their successor, and conducted the school with equal ability
three years. After uniting in marriage with a teacher in
Oberlin, he was assisted by his wife. These thorough
teachers earned for our institute the name of being one
of the best in our State. Students were sought for teacli-
ers in 'our own and adjoining counties. Although our
abolition principles vfefe very unpopular at that day, as
we generally had from one to three colored students in our
school, yet the thorough discipline given in the studies drew
the young people of the best intellect from the surrounding
country. Tliere were those who came from fifty to one
hundred miles to prepare for teaching or for a collegiate
course. Hundreds of young people who enjoyed the priv-
ileges our school afforded came to us with their prejudices
against colored people and our position in regard to them ;
but they soon melted away, and went they knew not
where. It was frequently said if we would give up the
vexed abolition question, and let the negroes alone, Baisin
Institute would become the most popular school in the State.
As a sample of many others, I will notice a young-lady
from Jackson County, who was brought to us by her father '
to become qualified for teaching. But her sensibifities ivt^ :
so shocked at meeting in her grammar-class a colored^ftii
that she returned to her room weeping over her disgwM?^
->
t
*V*M
36 A woman's life-work.
and resolved to write her father to come and take her
home immediately. But the other young women persuaded
her to attend the recitations assigned her, when to her
surprise the same young colored man was in the advanced
arithmetic class. And while impatiently waiting for her
father to come and take her from this *' nigger school" (as
she and many others called it), a letter came from him
advising her to remain, as he had expended so much in
fitting her for two or three terms there ; although if he
had known that a negro would have been allowed to attend
her class he would not have taken her there. She soon
became reconciled, and before a half-term closed, when she
threatened to leave at all events (as she read her father's
letter), she came to that colored man to assist her in intri-
cate parsing lessons. Before the close of the first term she
as frequently applied to James Martin, her colored class-
mate, for assistance in solving difiicult problems in mathe-
matics as to any of the others. She was one of our best
students; but this deep-rooted prejudice went, she knew
not how, as with very many others.
As to religious privileges in our school, our prayer*
meetings were held bi-weekly. Sabbath and Wednesday
evenings, and ministers of various denominations frequently
appointed meetings in our school on the Sabbath. While
the Bev. John Patchin had charge of the institution he
generally preached Sabbath evening, instead of the prayer-
meeting.
In the third year of our school our two older sons made
a profession of religion, with a number of other students,
which was cause of great rejoicing. Surely, we were
blessed above measure. Within two years after we were
rith another shower of divine favor in the conver.
fur two older daughters. Not unfrequently were
children's voices uplifted in vocal supplication at
fy altar. We were surely repaid more than a
fold for all our toiling, and heavy burdens borne
BAISIN INSTITUTE. 37
in founding Baisin Institute. As the fleeing fugitive ever
found a resting-place and cheer in our home, we richly
earned the cognomen of ** nigger den;" yet Heaven smiled
and blessed our work. We had many sympathizmg friends
in the Society from which we were disconnected as mem-
berSy even with those who had deemed us too radical.
There was unity with us in our work that brought us to-
gether in after years.
38 A WOMAli's LIFE-WOKK.
Chapter IL
BEREAVEMENTS.
Our last chapter left us rejoicing in success, but how
soon did deepest sorrow take its place. A dream seemed
sent to prepare me for the severe ordeal so near at hand.
I thought I was standing in our front yard looking east-
ward, and an angel sitting on a bay horse appeared in the
place of the sun's rising, coming to earth on some mission,
gliding over the tree tops toward our house, where were
father, mother, my sister Phoebe, and my husband, who
held in his arms our little babe. I started to inform them
that an angel was coming to earth on some errand, when
his advance was so rapid I was likely to lose sight of him,
and halted to watch his flight. He seemed to alight in
our yard near me, and smiled as he said, ''Follow thou
me." ''I will,** I responded, as soon as I bid Charles and
our folks &rewell. The beautiful personage assumed a
firmer tone, as he said, **Let the dead bury their dead, but
follow thou me." At this command I responded, "I will,"
and followed him to the graveyard, whe^ he left me. And
I awoke with that angelic figure, with that sweet, yet sol-
emn, voice ringing in my ear.
I related the dream, with its clear impression in my
mind, to my husband, who replied, '*That is a significaot
dream, and I think indicates death. I think we shall be
called to part with our infant daughter Lavina ; and it is
quite evident that consumption is fast hastening our sister
PhoBbe to her long home." She was my own sister, who
married my husband's brother, Daniel Haviland. He
continued his remarks, by making suggestions as t^i the
course we would feel it best to pursue about a burying-
A SIGNIFICANT DBEAM. 39
place for our little daughter, in case of a refusal of Friends
to allow a plain marble slab, with her name and date of
birth and death in their burying-ground ; and suggested
the comer of our orchard as a pleasant place, to which I
assented. After spending half an hour in this conversar
tion, be went out to his work. I prayed for my Savior's
band to lead me in whatever trial it was necessary for me
to pass through.
Little did I think of the heavier stroke which was
first to fidl. A few days after this dream I was charging
myself with being visionary ; yet a few of these most im-
pressive dreams* I believe, have been designed for our
iiistmction. My husband was seized with a heavy cold,
accompanied by a severe cough, that was increasing ; yet
be was able to be about the house and bam, giving direc-
tions, Bs to outdoor work, but nothing appeared alarming,
wben I was aroused by a startling dream of a coffin being
brought into our front room by four men, of whom I
inquired who was dead. The answer was, "A connection
of yours." "I want to see him, for that coffin appears to
be for a small man,'' was my reply. ''He is a small
man," was the rejoinder, ''and you shall see him." Upon
this, the closed coffin was brought to me, and I arose and
followed the pall-bearers to the graveyard. As the people
were standing around the open grave .to see the coffin
lowered, I saw a little chQd standing on the very edge of
the grave opposite to me. I exclaimed, "Do take that
child away, for it wiU cave into the grave aft;er its &ther !"
At that instant the light sand under its feet gave way,
and, as it stmck the coffin, the loud, hollow sound awoke
me, trembling as with a fit of ague, and with the strong
impression that I was soon to part with my beloved com-
panion and infant daughter, although both were sweetly
sleeping by my side. With this thrill through my whole
being, I resorted to prayer for their restoration to health,
if consisteut with the divine will.
40 A WOMAN^S LIFE-WORK,
Although my husband had enjoyed good health a num-
ber of years, and had not for seven years previously called
upon a physician, yet I now resolved to persuade him to call
for one at once. As the clock struck four, and as I was
leaving the bed to light the fire, my husband awoke, and
said he had enjoyed the most refreshing sleep he had had
since taking this cold, and felt so well he thought he soon
sliould be rid of it. Whenever I spoke the chattering of
my teeth revealed my agitation, and he expressed fear lest
I should be ill from the hard chill. But little did he
understand the upheavings of my troubled heart Boon a
severe paroxysm of coughing gave the opportunity to sug-
gest the idea of sending for a physician. At length he
consented, as he said, to please me, as he thought this
cough would soon give way. But while I went to our
boy's study-room to awaken our son Harvey to go for the
doctor, a severe pain in the region of the lungs was
cutting every breath.
The doctor was soon with us, but he thought there
were no discouraging symptoms apparent. I sent for Fa-
ther HavQand, who also thought, as did the doctor, that I
was unreasonably troubled ; but during the following night
he expressed doubts of recovery himself, and requested his
will to be written, which was doue. As his fever increased,
great effort was made to control our feelings in his pres-
ence. At one time, as he awoke, he discovered fast-falling
tears, and said : *' Do not weep for me, my dear wife ; re-
member those beautiful lines:
' God moves in mysterious way,
His wonders to perform.'
We are not to
' Judge the liOrd by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace ;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.'
Our separation will be short at longest. Then we shall he
reunited where there is no sorrow — ^no more dying — in that
DEATH OF HUSBAND. 41
glorious home. Two days ago there seemed a little cloud ;
but prayer was answered, and the cloud was all removed.
The overshadowiug now is that of peace and love." He
called for the children. Looking upon us all, he said, ''O,
how dear you all are to me P Calling each by name, he
gave advice and exhortations as none but a departing hus-
band and &ther could leave with his £unily — a legacy more
precious than all the golden treasures of earth. Then he
added: ''I want you, my dear children, U) promise me
that you will meet your father in heaven. Will you meet
me there?" Taking our little babe in his arms, he kissed
her, and said, '* Dear little Lavina will soon be with her
&ther," and closed with the prayer: '^O Lord, I commit
my dear wife and children into thy hands. Thou art the
widow's God, and a loving Father to fatherless children."
The words of the dying Christian, beginning
" What 's that steals, that steals upon my frame ?
Is it death— is it death 7"
were sung by his bedsdde, and as the last line,
"All is well— all is weU,"
was reached, he raised his hands, and repeated, ^' O,. hal-
lelujah to the Lamb!" Then, turning to me, he added,
*' My dear, I want these lines sung at my funeral." His
last words were, "Come, Lord Jesus, thy servant is ready,"
and widi a sweet smile his happy spirit was wafted home,
March 13, 1845.
His disease was inflammatory erysipelas, at that time
entirely new, and not understood by our physicians. It
passed through our portion of the StiEite,^a sweepmg epi-
demic, in the Spring of 1845, and proved &tal in most
cases. My dear mother, who was with us during this week
of sorrow, was taken home with the same disease, and in one
week her happy spirit took its flight to God who gave it.
8he, too, left us in the triumphs of &ith. She had not
left us an hour before brother Daniel came for mc to go
4
42 A woman's life-work/
to his dying wife, as she was calling for mother, and he did
not dare inform her that mother was dangerously ill. I
took my little emaciated babe upon a pillow, and went to
my dear sister, who was so soon to leave us. Her first
query was, ** How is our dear mother?"
'* Mother is a happy spirit in heaven," was the reply,
'' and sister Phcebe will soon meet her there."
Her reply was: ** It is well; but I had hoped to meet
her once more in this world — ^yet we 11 soon meet, to part
no more forever. She soon followed brother Charles ; but
I trust we will all meet one day, an unbroken band. 0
how I wish I could see brother Ira I" an absent brother
for whom she had often expressed great anxiety in regard
to his spiritual and everlasting welfare.
The same burden of soul for the same brother had also
rested on the heart of our sainted mother, whose funeral took
place two days later. Within one week sister Phoebe died in
peace. Here was the third wave of sorrow rolling over us.
From this house of mourning I was removed to my
home with the same disease that had taken my husband
and mother; and a number of our neighbors were going
the same way. My father and father-in-law thought me
dangerously ill — chills and fever, with stricture of the
lungs, that made respiration painful. They were very
anxious to have the best help that could be obtained at
once; ''for," said father, ''what is done for thee must be
done quickly." I told him that every one who had been
takien with this disease had died, as physicians of each
school did not understand, it. But I would return to my
home, as they suggested fH^ut felt most easy to trust my-
self with water treatment, and would like to take a shower-
bath every two hours, and try that treatment twelve hours.
This was done, and every bath brought relief to respira-
tion, and my lungs became entirely free, though my neck
and throat were still badly swollen and inflamed. Cold
applications, frequently applied, soon overcame that diffi-
A CBITICAL MOMENT. 43
cultj, and in three days* the disease seemed entirely con-
quered.
A relapse from taking cold, however, threw me into a
stapor ; but I was aroused by an expression of a neighbor,
as he said: *'8he is not consdoos, and never will be, un-
less something is done; and if she were a sister of mine a
doctor would be here as soon as I could bring him."
" I will see if I can get an expression from her," said
my brother Harvey.
** If we can only learn mother's wish it shall be granted,"
said my anxious son Harvey.
As I heard their remarks a strong impression came over
me that if I were placed in charge of a physician I should
not live two days, but if I could tell them to shower my head
and neck often I would recover. As I looked upon my
anxious fatherless children around my bed I made an effort
to speak, but my parched and swollen tongue could not for
some time utter a word. The answer to earnest prayer
came from Him who numbers even the very hairs of our
head. As my brother took my hand, saying, " If you wish
a physician press my hand, or if you wish water treatment
move your head on the pillow," I could not move my head
in the least, and my only hope was to say no. When
asked if I wished a doctor sent for, I prayed that my tongue
might utter words of direction for the sake of my father*
less children, and said, ''No."
''Do you want cold compresses, or shall we gently
shower over a thin cloth on the swollen and inflamed por-
tion of your neck and head?"
"Shower."
"Cold or tepid?"
"Well."
"If you mean well-water, how much?^
"Big pitcher."
"How often r
"Twenty minutes."
44 A woman's life-work.
Said my son Harrey, '^It shall be done, if I sit by her
every minute to-night."
I felt a positive impression that my Heavenly Father
had answered my prayer directly, and granted an assur-
ance, in the token of recovery, and I praised the Lord for
his ''loving kindness, O, how free." W^ith this assurance
I fell back in a stupor, exoept a dreamy consciousness of
their showering, which was faithfully done, with the assid-
tance of my brother. At twelve o'clock I awoke, and in-
quired where all the people were that filled the room a
little while before, and was surprised to learn the hour of
night. They said, as my breathing became more natural,
the neighbors had left and the children retired. I could
speak easily, and the purple appearance of the skin had
disappeared. In the morning the pain was entirely gone,
but the soreness was still severe. But with frequent
changes of compresses during the day, the swelling very
much subsided. I wondered why &ther did not come, as
he had not been to see me since sister PhoBbe's funerals.
My brother informed me that he had a chill during the
funeral, and had not been able to leave. As he had a
few fits of the ague some weeks previously, I supposed it
was a return of that disease. The day following brother
Sala came, and in reply to my inquiry after my father,
said he was no better, but sent me a request to be very
careful of myself, and hoped I would soon recover, and
left in seeming haste to see brother Patchin. But I sent
for him to come and tell me more about &ther. He soon
came with brother Patchin and brother Dolbeare. He then
told me that father had the same disease that had taken
my husband and our mother, and he also said that it was
father's request that for the sake of my large famfly of
children, who were recently bereft of their father, that I
would give up the idea of coming to see him.
But I could not be satisfied without going to see my
dear father once more, and yet, the pleading of my dear
MY DYING FATHER. 46
chfldren was ahnoet too much to forego. ''We have just
lost our father; now what should we do if our mother
riiould he taken from us?" "Butif lam roUed in quilts and
laid on a bed in the wagon, I am confident I can be taken
to fiidier^s house safely" — distant nearly three miles. In
Uiis way I was taken to my dying father, though unable
to walk across the room without assistance. As soon as
he learned of my coming, he directed them to lay me on
the bed untfl I was rested. In a few minutes he sent them
to bring me to him. As my son and brother led me to
his bedside, he placed the cold purple fingers over my
pulse, and said, ^' I am so glad to see thee, but I feared it
would be too much for thee to bear. There is a little
feverish excitement about thee yet. I am more concerned
for thee than for the rest of my children, on account of
thy large fiunily, that will so much need their mother^s
oomisel and care. I want to say to thee. Look up to the
widow's God for guidance, for wisdom from him is so much
needed, with the heavy responsibilities now resting upon
thee. Do not allow these bereavements to crush thy feeble
frtime. I have feared they had already seriously affected
thy health. I know thy anxiety to bring up thy children
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And he will
grant abiKty to lead them to the Lamb of God, who shed
his precious blood for us all." With other advice, he be-
came weary, and said, ** Now take her back to the other
room, and lay her on the bed until rested." And during
the few hours he lived he frequently sent for me to talk a
few minutes 'at a dme, watching my pulse each time, until
witihJn a few moments of the last ferewell to earth.
lliere were six of his children present, to whom he
gave his farewell blessmg, leaving a bright evidence that
all was well with him. ''In me there is no merit. I am
fully trusting in the merit of my crucified Savior, who
shed his own precious blood for my redemption. I can
Bay with Job, 'I know that my Redeemer lives/ and be-
46 A woman's life-work.
cause he lives I shall live also." His last words, almost
with his last breath, were, ''Here she comes," and left
this tabernacle for the building not made with hands, eter-
nal in the heavens. Father and mother were lovely in their
lives, and in their death were only two weeks divided.
It seemed that my last earthly prop was gone. Three
weeks later my youngest child followed her fiither and
grandparents to the spirit home. Within six weeks, five
of my nearest and dearest ones were taken from me.
There was hardly a fiimily within two miles of us but
was bereft of one or two loved ones by this epidemic.
Five widows (myself included) at one time were standing
around the death-bed of a near neighbor. Our female
principal at that time, Emily Gralpin*, was taken with this
epidemic, and died after three days' illness. A few hours
previous to her death she requested a season of prayer, in
which her husband, Rev. Charles Gralpin, led. Her pros-
pect was bright, and, clearly foreseeing the ransomed throng
she was soon to join, said she, "Oh! hew vain, how transi-
tory, does all earthly treasure appear at this hour — a
mere bubble upon the water." About a half an hour be-
fore she left us, she said, "Hark! don't you hear that
beautiful music? Oh I what music; I never heard any-
thing like it! Do n't you hear it?" '' No, we do not hear
it." Being in an ecstacy, she exclaimed, "Look at that
heavenly choir. Do n't you see them ? Do n't you hear
that sweetest of all music?" "We do not see them nor
hear them." "There — they have left." A few minutes
before her happy spirit took its flight, she again looked up
very earnestly. " There they are again. Oh, how sweet!
how beautiful!" And taking leave of her husband and
two children, sister and brother-in-law, and of all present,
committing her dear ones to the keeping of the Lord Jesus,
with the request that the two lines,
It
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee/'
BT7SINESS KHBARRAiSSMEirrS. 47
be placed upon the marble slab to mark her resting place,
she fell asleep in Jesus.
Such &talit7 never before, nor since, visited Baisiu as
in 1845. In those days of sorrow commingled with the
rest of faith, that brought peace and joy even in afflic-
tion, my only reliance was the widow's God, for wisdom I
so much needed in the double responsibilities now resting
upon me.
After the death of my sweet babe, twenty-two months
of age, and my restoration to health, I looked over amounts
of indebtedness with dat6s when due. I made an estimate
of costs of harvesting and marketing the twenty acres of
wheat and other grains, and what must be retained for
family use ; and found I would be able to reach only about
half the amount due the following Autumn. I called on
all our creditors within reach to inform them of proba-
bilities, unless I could find sale for a portion of the stock.
But none of the creditors wanted any of it. Said one,
to whom the largest amount was due, "You do not think
of taking your husband's business and carrying it forward,
do your I replied, " I thought of trying to do the best
I could with it. With a look of surprise, he said firmly,''
" You are very much mistaken, Mrs. Haviland ; you can not
do any such thing ; you had much better appoint some man
in whom you have confidence to transact your business for
you." I informed him I had seven minor children left
me, and I feund seven hundred dollars of indebtedness,
and it would cost money to hire an agent. Then, I ought
to know just where I stand, to enable me to look closely
to expenditures. "Well, you can try it, but you'll find
your mistake before six months have passed, and you 11 see
yon had better have taken my advice." I knew I was not
accustomed to business of this sort All the other cred-
itors whom I had seen spoke very kindly. Although these
words were not unkindly spoken, yet they were saddening
to my already sad heart.
48 A woman's life-wobk.
I was too timid to go to the probate jodge with any
sort of ease for instruction. In looking around me for
some female friend to accompany me, I could find but very
few who were not undergoing like trials with myself, conse-
quently I must submit to these new experiences, as what-
ever was right for me to do was proper. I depended upon
an allwise guiding Hand, who is ever ready to reach
it forth to the trusting child. I wrote to one, a few
miles distant, to whom was due eighty dollars the ensuing
Fall, that forty dollars would be all I should be able to
meet. He called in a few days, and introduced himself
saying tliat he had received a statement from me that I
could only pay him the coming Fall fifty per cent on the
eighty-dollar note he held against my husband. Said he,
in a hurried manner, ''I called to let you know that I
muii have it all when it is due, as I have a payment to
make on my fiirm at that time, and I have depended on
that" I told him I would gladly pay him every penny of
it the coming Fall, but it would be impossible, as there
were other demands equally pressing. ** Very well, that is
all I have to say, madam; I can not accept any such
arrangement ; I shall put in a way to bring it. Grood-by.'
He left in haste for me to ponder all these things
over, in doubts as to my ability to meet all these rough
places of outside life. Perhaps I had better leave this
business with some man to deal with men. But prayer to
the widow's God and comforting promises were my com-
panions. Here was my only refuge and shelter in these
storms. As I retired with a burdened heart, that I was
endeavoring to cast at the feet of ray Savior, the widoVs
burden-bearer, I had a sweet dream of an angelic host, that
filled my room with a halo of glory, settled on every &ce,
and those nearest my bed appeared in the form of persons
dressed in beautiAil attire; Others were sweet fiices that
looked upon me with smiles of peace. As one took my hand,
a familiar feeling sprang up, ttiat gave me confidenoe to
PRAYER ANSWERED. 49
ask for the name. **My name is Supporter." And look-
ii^ at the one standing near, '^And Tvhat is bis name?"
"That is a woman, and her name is Influeneer-of-hearts.''
Pointing to another still more glorious in appearance,
"And who is that one?" "That is Searcher-of-hearts."
"Then jou all bear the name of your missions to earth,
do your "We do," i*cplied Supporter. As I looked
over this host that filled my room I burst into a flood of
tears for joy. I exclaimed, " Oh ! what missions are yours !
80 many wayward hearts to influence, so much of sin and
wickedness that reigns in this world to search out." At
this said Searchcr-of hearts, "Support her, for she needs
it." "I do," and he reached for my other hand, aud as
both of my hands were held by Supporter, I realized a
wave of strength to pass over me, filling my soul. I awoke
in an ecstacy. Yes, I will cast my care on Jesus and not
forget to pray. Calm and sweet was this confidence in
being cared for, and supported by an almighty arm.
'^ A few days after I saw the exacting man coming
through my gate, which, for a moment, caused a dread ;
but the second thought was, oS, all is with my Savior. I
met him with the usual greeting, and said, "You have
called to see about that claim you have against me."
"Yes, I have called to inform you that I shall not want
any thing from you next Fall, and perhaps shall not want
more than half next year, as I have received one hundred
dollars that I had supposed was lost, and as I was coming
within two miles I thought I would call and let you know
of my Iconclusion." While I thanked him for the favor,
secret praise ascended to Him who melts away the mount-
ain that seems impassable, making a way where there
seemed no way.
This may seem a small matter, but for me at that time
it was a reason for rejoicing at this unexpected turn of af-
fairs. It was but one of many similar cases, and none
can more fully realize tlic blessing of these reliefs than tb
5
50 A woman's life-work.
Tvidow of nearly twoBcore years, who never previous to
widowhood knew the burden of outside work in providing
for a large family, which was now added to continued care
of the Baisin Institute. Many night plans, for day execu-
tion, were made. I soon found sale for forty acres of the
one hundred and sixty, which relieved me of the most
pressiug demands. .
At times responsibilities were so great, and burdens so
crushil^f that I was almost ready to falter. My greatest
ajixiety was to guide my dear children aright. The four
older ones had resolved to follow the dear Redeemer, but
the slippery paths of youth were theirs to walk in. The
consideration of these multiform cares at one time seemed
of crushing weight. I questioned whether the burden I
had so often left at the foot of the cross I had not taken
up again, and whether I had as fully consecrated self,
with my dear children, to the Lord as he required. I was
endeavoring fully to yield afl into my Eedeeraer's hands
for safe-keeping. This was my constant prayer, yet this
heavy burden during a few days seemed unfitting me for
the every-day duties devolving upon me. In family devo-
tion I opened to the fifty-fourth chapter of Isaiah, where
I found precious promises that I accepted for my own, and
the heavy burden for my children was uplifted. Never
did I experience greater liberty in prayer, or exercise a
stronger fiedth. Surely the silver lining to this cloud ap-
pears. "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord"
were precious words. I was afiUcted and tossed with tem-
pest, but a sweet promise followed. All the w*ay through
that chapter the Ck)mforter appeared with rich promises.
With these before me I could freely leave all my burden
with the Lord. I saw by the eye of faith all my seven
children made acquainted with their Creator in the days
of their youth. Although I never ceased asking, yet there
has seemed an accompanying assurance. When from ten
^^ sixteen years of age, my seven children yielded by liv-
MARRIAGE OP TWO CHILDREN. 61
ing experience to the Savior's loving invitation, '* Come
unto me/' that hour and day was victorious through
&ith. That weight of burden never again returned. The
entire yielding all into the care and keeping power of Him
who doeth all things well, at that hour was complete. I
coold say, '' He leadeth me^'' without a shadow of doubt
As fugitive-slaves were still making tlieir resting-place ^
with us, I hired one of them, named George Taylor, a few
months through hay-making and harvest. He had made
his escape from a Southern master who was about to sell
him farther south. Once before he had made an unsuc-
cessful attempt at freedom, but was captured and placed
in irons, until they made deep sores around his ankles.
As he appeared very submissive, the sorest ankle was re-
lieved. Being so badly crippled, he was thought safe.
But supplying himself with asafetida, which he occasion-
ally rubbed over the soles of his shoes, to elude the scent
of bloodhounds, he again followed the north star, and
finally reached our home. His ankles were still unhealed.
He had succeeded in breaking the. iron with a stoae, dur-
ing the first and second days of his hiding in the woods.
He was an honest Christian man of the Baptist persuasion.
MARRIAGE OF TWO CHILDREN.
On June 6, 1846, my oldest son, Harvey S., was mar-
ried to Huldah West, of Adrian, and my oldest daughter,
Esther M., was at the same hour married to Almon Cam-
bum, of Franklin, both of our own county. The mother's
earnest prayer was, that these children might prove each
other^s burden-sharers, thereby doubling the joys, as well
as dividing the sorrows, of life. My daughter's husband
was one of our students, and in some of her studies a
classmate.
We were fortunate in again securing brother Patchin
to finish the academic year in our institution. Though the
cloud looked dark that overhung our institution, by thr
52 A woman's life-work.
Budden deaths of my husband, and sister Emily Gralpin,
which caused her bereaved husband to leave as soon as
his place could be filled by a successor, we had the con-
sciousness that our school was taking a deep hold on the
minds of the community at large, as well as exercising a
marked influence upon the young people who were enjoy-
ing its privileges. We found an increasing interest in
abolition principles throughout Our community. In this
we praised God and took courage.
AUNT LUCY. 53
Chapter III.
' ANn-SLAVERY EXPERIENCES.
This chapter introduces the reader to representatives
of a large proportion of slave -owners of the Southern
States, "who were perverted by a system well-named "the
sum of all villainies."
Willis Hamilton, an emancipated slave, the hero of this
narrative^ who fled to Canada with his slave wife, Elsie, to
seek for her the protection of the British lion from tlie mer-
ciless talons of the freedom-shrieking American eagle, was
emancipated three years previous to the date of this chap-
ter, together with nineteen others (the reputed goods and
chattels of John Bayliss, a Baptist deacon, near Joues-
boroQgh, Tennessee). Slaveholder though he was, John
Bayliss evidently thought his black people had souls as well
as those of white skins, for he allowed his house servants
to remain in the dining-room during evening family wor-
ship, thus giving them instruction which, as the sequel will
show, made the slave the teacher of the master; for one
morning, as ** Aunt Lucy," an old and privileged servant,
was passing through his room, she said:
^'Massa John, I's bin thinkin' a heap o' dat ar what
you read in the Bible t' other night.'*
''Ah, what's that. Aunt Lucy?" said the deacon.
'' It 's to do oder folks as you 'd want 'em to do to you,
or somehow dat fashion. I tell you, Massa John, 't would
be mighty hard for you white folks to work great many
years and get noffin*. Den, if you dies, whar'd we go to?
I spooks we M go down de ribor, like Jones's poor people
did las' week."
54 A woman's life-work.
** Well, well, Aunt Lucy, that was too bad; but Jones
was in debt, and I suppose they had to be sold/'
*^ O yes, I s'poso so; but dat you read in de Bible sort
o' sticks to me — I can't help it,** said this faithful old
mother in Israel, as she went out to her work.
In a moment or two Mrs. Bayliss entered the room,
and the deacon said:
" Wife, what kind of a text do you think Aunt Lucy
has just given me?"
** Text?"
" Yes, text."
** What 's got into her head now?"
''She says she's been thinking about what I read in
prayer-time the other evening, referring to the golden rule,
and that it sort o' sticks to her. She spoke of the excite-
ment over Jones's black people who were sent down the
river the other day ; and I tell you, the way she applied
her text, it *sort o' sticks' to me."
'' O hush!" indignantly exclaimed Mrs. Bayliss. ''Aunt
Lucy 's mighty feligious, and has so many notions of her
own she 's not worth minding, any how."
" But she asked me what would become of my black
people if I should die, and if I thought they would ever
be torn apart as Jones's were. I tell you, wife, I have
witnessed such scenes too often to feel right in risking a
contingency of that kind," said the deacon, gravely.
'* Do n't be a fool, now, John Bayliss," angrily exclaimed
his wife, "about Aunt Luc/s fuss over Jones's niggers."
" Well," said the deacon, " I don't wonder at her feel-
ing grieved ; they belonged to her Church, and many of
them were her relatives."
Here, for the time being, the conversation ended ; but
the soul of John Bayliss, awakened by the simple, straight-
forward speech of his bond-woman, refused to be quieted,
and he made this the subject of earnest prayer until the
Dath of duty became so clear before him that he could not
EI/5IE nAMILTON. 56
do otherwise than manumit his twenty slaves, although
bitterly opposed by his wife (who refused to free the three
held in her own right).
Elsie, the wife of Willis Hamilton, belonged to a neigh-
boring planter. She was sold to a drover for the Southern
market, and was being torn from her husband and two
little daughters. Willis, in his agony, went from house to
house, imploring some one to buy her, so that she might
remain near her &mily. Finally one Dr. John P. Chester,
who was about opening a hotel, agreed to purchase Elsie
for $800, if Willis would pay $300 in work in the house,
and fare the same as the other servants in board and
clothing. With these conditions Willis gladly complied ;
bat after they had spent a few months in their new home
Deacon Bayliss examhied their article of agreement and
found it to be illegal. He told Willis that Dr. Chester
could sell Elsie at any time, and he could establish no
claim to her, even had he paid the $300, which, at the
wages he was receiving, would take him nearly nine years
to earn, with the interest, and advised him to leave Dr.
Chester and work for wages, as he had done since his
manumission. This advice was immediately acted upon,
Willis being permitted to spend his nights with his wife.
Every thing passed off pleasantly for a few weeks, until
one of the house-servants told Elsie that she overheard
Master John sell both her and Willis to a slave-trader,
who would the following night convey them to the river
with a drove ready for New Orleans. Frantic as the poor
woman was with terror and grief at this information, she
managed to perform her duties as usual until supper-time;
and when all were seated at the table she slipped out un-
observed, ran through a corn-field into the woods, sending
word to Willis by a fellow-servant to meet her at a certain
log. The moment Willis received the message he hastened
to her with flying feet ; and here the wretched husband
66 A woman's lipe-wouk.
and wife, but a few days before so full of plans for a
pleasant future, held their council in tears.
Willis, in his sudden fright and excitement, could only
exclaim: "What shall we do? Where shall we go?"
Elsie, cooler and more composed, suggested going to Deacon
Bayliss for advice. This Willis quickly did, and soon re-
turned, it having been arranged that he should bring Elsie
there and secrete her in the attic until the excitement of
the hunt was over. After this they assumed the names
of Bill and Jane, a brother and sister who answered to
their own description of color and size on Willis's free
papers — the whole list of the twenty slaves emancipated by
Deacon Bayliss being recorded on each paper.
After five weeks hiding at the southern terminus of the
" Underground Railroad,'* they took up their line of march
for Canadiv. In a Quaker settlement in Indiana they found
friends to whom they revealed their true relationship, and
here they spent a year with a Quaker family named Shu-
gart. But the slight protection afforded by the laws of
Indiana did not tend to give them a feeling of security, and
BO they started agam for tho promised land with their infant
daughter Louisa. On this journey they were assisted on
their way, and made easy and comfortable compared with
their hasty flight from Tennessee, from whence they walked
with swollen and blistered feet, and every nerve strung to
its utmost tension from the fear of pursuit by their South-
em persecutors.
As times were hard in Canada, Elsie consented to come
to Michigan with her husband if he could find a Quaker
neighborhood. In their search they found our house, and
my husband, Charles Haviland, Jr., afler learning their
condition, leased WiDis twenty acres of ground, mostly
openings, for ten years, for the improvements he would
make thereon. Here they lived for three years, when one
day £lsie saw a strange man peering through the fence.
A FRAUDULENT LETTER. 57
Her first thought was "a Southerner/' and snatching her
two little ones she ran for our house, only a few rods distant.
The man pursued her, and she called for help to a neighbor
in sight, at which the skulking sneak took himself off to
the woods. This incident so thoroughly aroused their fears
that they took another farm, a few miles distant, for three
years ; then a farm near Ypsilanti for a few years ; from
whence they removed to Monroe, where they induced a
friend to write to Willis's old friend and master. Deacon
Bayliss, making inquiries after their two daughters, who
were left behind in slavery. They received a prompt re-
ply, purporting to come from Bayliss, informing them that
their daughters were still living where they left them. He
would see them, he said, by the time he received their
next letter, which he hoped would be soon, that he might
be the happy bearer of glad news to the children from
their father and mother. He professed great joy at hear-
ing from them, wished them to write all the particulars
about themselves, but cautioned them to write to no one
but him, and all would be safe. He requested them to
inform him in what town they were living, as he noticed
their letter was dated in one town, mailed in another, and
he was directed to address them in a third. Their friend,
however, strictly cautioned them not to reveal their definite
whereabouts, but to answer all other queries. Willis wrote
that as his farm lease had expired there, he would have to
seek another farm, and did not know where he would be, but to
address a letter as before and it would be forwarded to him.
Their next move was to return to their first Michigan
home on my premises, a few months after the death of my
husband, taking up their abode in the little log-house built
for them a few years before, and working my land on
' shares. Another letter was soon received from their friend
Deacon BayUss, as they Supposed, and they urged me to
reply ; but I firmly refused to write to any one in th^ land
of the slaveholder, lest the message should fall into t^
58 A WOMAN^S LIFE-WORK.
hands of enemies, and advised them to leave their daughters
in the hands of the Lord, who would yet provide a way
of deliverance for them as he had for their parents. In
their great anxiety, however, to hear from their children,
from whom they had been separated so many years, their
pica was strong and persistent; but I remained immovable
to all their entreaties, and told them of a slave family,
who, after living twenty years in Indiana, had but recently
been captured and returned to hopeless bondage. Upon
this they yielded to me for the time being, but in a few
weeks came again with pleadings made eloquent by suffer-
ing. As they had felt the vice-like grip of the peculiar
system on their own hearts and lives, they realized too
keenly the fate that might any time overtake their
daughters. But I still resisted all their entreaties, and in
a few days after they applied to J. F. Dolbeare, one
of the trustees of Baisin Institute, who, thinking there
was no danger, wrote all they desired, telling the sup-
posed Deacon Bayliss all their past life in the free States
and all their plans for the future. This they kept from
me for a time, but Elsie's heart refused to be quieted, and
she finally told me about it, first telling her husband she
believed it their duty. "For," she says, "I have thought
more about it since Aunt Laura told me she dreamed of
three poisonous green vipers which she poked so near the
fire that their sacks were burned to a crisp and the poison
all ran out, so that she thought them powerless for harm,
but they still kept their threatening attitude; and who
knows but these vipers may be slaveholders ?" Willis said
he had felt like telling me all the while, and both came to
me with their story.
I much regretted this unwise step, but forbore all criti-
cism, and told them we would hope for the best. A few
days after a stranger appeared at our gate and inquired for
a stray horse, which he said left him at Tecumseh. None
having been seen he made similar inquiries at Hamilton's.
MISHAP TO 8LAVE-HUNTEES. 59
He alsd asked for a glass of water, and while receiving it,
Bays to Elsie: ''Auntie, where does this road lead to, that
crosses the river east?" "To Palmyra," she replied, and
frightened at being addressed as "Auntie," in the Southern
style, hastened into her house.
The second night after this, at eleven o'clock, a car-
riieige drove up to a log-house on one of the cross roads,
and three men appeared simultaneously, two at the front
and one at the rear window, but quickly disappeared.
They had evidently mistaken their place, as it was a white
&mily up with a sick child. It was a dark night, and
tliere was a dugway ten feet deep perpendicular, near the
fence to which their team was hitched, which the valiant
and mysterious trio did not discover, and when they re-
entered their carriage and attempted to turn around they
tumbled into it, horses, carriage, and all. This little inci-
dent so disarranged their plans that they were until day-
light returning to Adrian (only six miles distant), with
their broken trappings and bruised horses. They told the
liveryman, Mr. Hurlburt, that their horses took fright and
ran of! a steep bank, and begged him to fix the damages
as low as possible, as they were from home, belated, etc.
Mr. Hurlburt assessed them thirty dollars ; but he after-
wards said, had he known their business he would have
doubled it
Three days after this fortunate mishap Willis Hamilton
received a letter inclosing three dollars, purporting to be
from John Bayliss, who had come up into Ohio on busi-
ness, and was on his way to visit them when he was sud-
denly taken very ill, and was pronounced by the physi-
cians in a critical condition — in fact, they gave him
but little encouragement for recovery, and he desired
Willis to come and visit him, and bring his wife and chil-
dren, as he might want him for two weeks. Ho closed by
saying :
"Whether I get better or die, I am resigned, and ca^
1-
60 A woman's life-work.
say the Lord's will be done. I shall have every train
watched until you come. God bless you.
" Respectfully yours, John Bayuss."
Of course I was given this letter to read, and I sug-
gested the utmost caution in obeying this request, for, as
the old rat in the fable said, there might be *' concealed
miscliief in this heap of meal." I called for the other two
letters, and found they were written by the same hand.
Willis says: **OhI I know the old boss too well; he's
true as steel; he won't have anything to do with trap
business. Besides, I 've got my free papers, and I 'm not
afiraid to go, but I wont take my wife and children." I
proposed that Mr. Dolbeare or some neighbor go with him.
That pleased him, but Mr. Dolbeare could not go. As
my son Daniel and I were going to Adrian, I proposed to
get either Mr. Backus or Mr. Peters, both strong anti-
slavery friends in the city, to accompany him to Toledo.
As we were about starting, Joseph Gibbons, a neighbor,
came with the suggestion that Willis remain at home, and
James Martin, who was about his color and size, go in his
stead ; as Gibbons agreed with me in believing there was
a deep laid plot To this all parties agreed, and Willis
gave me the letter and the three dollars towards the fare
of whoever should go with James, who was an intelligent
young colored man in our institution. Everything being
in readiness we now started for Adrian, where we arrived
just in time to jump on board the train, and consequently
had no leisure to seek out and make the proposed arrange-
ments with our above mentioned friends, but sent word
back to Willis that we would return the following morning.
Once fairly settled on our journey the responsibility so
suddenly thrust upon me made me cry out in my heart
for wisdom beyond my own, and I prayed for a guiding
hand to direct our actions in case we should find ourselves
in the camp of the enemy, face to face with traffickers in
human souls and bodies, who considered no scheme too
V
«
ARRIVAL AT TOLEDO. 61
vOe or desperate for them to undertake, the suooess of
which would in any way subserve their own interests.
We arrived at Toledo at 7 P. M., and as we left the
cars James was addressed by a man with the question :
*'Is your name Willis Hamilton?'' (and without waiting
for a reply), " Ib your wife with you?"
" No, sir," BsAd James.
*' Perhaps I am mistaken," said the questioner, who
was the porter of the Toledo hotel.
"Who do you wish to see?" said James.
"Willis Hamilton is the man I am sent for, by his old
friend John Bayliss, who is at the Toledo hotel, so ill that
lie is not expected to live."
"Where is this Mr. Bavliss from?" said James.
"Tennessee, I believe."
" Very well, if there is such a man here I want to see
him."
"Come with me, and 111 take you to his room," said
the porter.
While tlus conversation was passing between the porter
and James we were following in the rear, but apparently
paying no attention to them. Our plan was for Daniel to
keep James in sight if possible, and whatever he heard of
the sick man to report to me in the parlor. We entered
the hotel nearly together. I was shown into the parlor
and James was taken up a flight of stairs from the bar-
room. Daniel was following, when the porter told him
the bar-room for gentlemen was below. He said, "I am
taking this man to see a friend of his who is very sick,
and no strangers are allowed to enter the room." Of
course, my son could do nothing but return, so no further
observations could be taken by us until the reappearance
of James. For two long hours we neither saw nor heard
anything of him, and becoming very anxious and restless
I told Daniel to ask for James Martin, as he had business
with him. Twice he made this request, but the porter
62 A woman's life-wobk.
only said, '' Yes, yes, you shall see him in a minute,'' and
dodged from room to room to keep out of sight.
Growing desperate, I finally told my son to tell the
porter '' if that young colored man is not forthcoming at
once, a writ of habeas corpus will be served on him in fif-
teen minutes, as we must see him immediately. Also tell
Mr. Woodward, the proprietor, that your mother is here
with a message for Mr. John Bayliss, who we understand
is very ill at this house." Mr. Woodward instantly sum-
moned the porter, and we heard him say in an excited
undertone: '' There 's trouble ahead unless that young black
fellow comes do^vn immediately; tell them to send him
down at once." In a moment the porter, three gentlemen,
and James made their appearance, evidently to the sur-
prise of twenty half drunken Irishmen who had been chat-
tering all the evening, but were now so still you could
have heard a pin drop, to see Hamilton (as the sequel
shows they supposed) brought down so publicly and with-
out fetters. It afterwards transpired that Willis Hamil-
ton, upon coming down stairs, was to have been put into
a close carriage, sent away, and his fiimily then sent for
under the plea that he was detained with his sick friend,
and this was the intelligent crowd who were to aid in the
success of the plan.
I had seen a carriage stand fift^een or twenty minutes
at the bar-room door and finally leave without a passenger,
and Daniel saw the same carriage at the rear door equally
long, which also left there empty. Upon coming down
James Martin evidently took in the situation at a glance,
for, giving my son a pinch, he said : '* Mr. Haviland, let
us go into the dining-room and call for supper." This was
to give the drunken rabble time to leave so that he could
relate his adventures with the Southerners aft^r supper.
But by this time the porter came to me to inquire if I
wished to see Mr. Bayliss, the sick man. I replied in the
affirmative, upon which he said : ** He is very low ; no
INTERVIEW WITH "THE DOCTTOR/* 63
stranger has been allowed to enter his room for three days,
but his doctor is here. Would you like to see him?" **I
would," I replied. A tall gentleman now entered the
room and addressed me: '* Madam, are you the lady who
wished to see me?" "I am, if you are the physician who
has charge of John Bayliss of Tennessee, who we learn is
very ill, by a letter which Willis Hamilton received yes-
terday."
** I am Dr. Taylor of this city, and have the case of
Mr. Bayliss in my care. His son-in-law is here taking
care of Him, and they are all greatly disappointed at not
seeing Hamilton this evening, as Mr. Bayliss has sent for
him and his family, and they can not imagine why he
docs not come."
" Well, I can tell you why. We feared a trap, as
Willis's wife was formerly a slave."
"I dont see," said the doctor, "how you could sus-
pect any thing WTong in that letter, as I understand they
have written them before, and you should have compared
the letters to see if they were written by the same person."
** We did so, and found they were written by the same
person. But there are other points to consider : 1st, John
Bayliss stands somewhat in the relation of a slaveholder,
as in a former letter he spoke of three aged slaves living
with him, and wished Hamilton and wife to stay with him
two weeks if he lived, which was doubtful, and wished
them to be sure and bring their children, though we all
know that four little noisy children are not agreeable com-
panions in* a sick-room."
Here my learned doctor gave his head a vigorous
scratch, and said : "Well, madam, Mr. Bayliss is probably
childish firom age, and his severe illness makes him more
80. A nervous temperament like his, affected by disease,
often enfeebles the mind, as body and mind are in close
relationship philosophically. Now, he is just childish enough
to want to see those children playing around his room, an^
64 A woman's life-work.
Jbe sap he would make them handsome presents ; and as
money seems to be plenty with him and apparently no
object, I judge they would be well paid for coming."
I did not appear to question this view of the case, but
inquired how long Deacon Bayliss had been ill.
''About seven days, madam," replied the doctor.
** What seems to be the nature of the disease?"
"It was at first a violent attack of bilious fever, but
for the last three days it has assumed a fearful form of
typhus."
I told him that Hamilton and his wife were lx)th very
anxious about their old friend, and wished me to see him
personally, and give him their reasons for not coming.
** I should be glad," said the doctor, " to allow you to
see him, were it not for his extreme nervousness, but I
dare not risk it It seems hard to think the dying request
of this poor old man can not be granted. He seems to
consider this family almost next to his own."
'' Yes," I said, '' it is also hard and humiliating to hu-
mane and patriotic Americans that a system of human
bondage exists in this country which causes these horrible
fears and suspicions to loom up like specters before the
mental vision of this persecuted and down-trodden race."
"That is very true," said Dr. Taylor; "slavery is the
darkest spot on our national escutcheon. But in this case
there is no cause for suspicion ; for I am sure there is no
plot with regard to the Hamilton family, and I call God
to witness that every word I tell you is truth. As to the
three slaves you spoke of, he told me during the first of
his sickness that he emancipated all his slaves, twenty ui
number, but that his wife had three in her right, which
she refused to free, and these have always remained in the
family. He manumitted his slaves from purely conscien-
tious scruples ; and I l)elieve that if there is a Christian
that walks God's earth he is one, for he has manifested
such })atience and resignation during his severe illness
"the doctob^s'' opinion. [65
that he has entirely won my affections. Now, don't you
think yon can induce Hamilton to bring his family here?
I do not believe he will live three days."
"I will be honest with you,** I replied. "Although
you have talked like a candid man, I do not believe I
could transfer sufficient confidence to the family to induce
them to come unless I should see him, as they charged
me over and again."
At this my tender-hearted .£sculapius sighed deeply,
and said : " I am sorry tliat they or their friends should
entertain any distrust, as I fear he may not be conscious
two days longer. A council of physicians was called this
afternoon, and three out of the four gave it as their opin-
ion that he could not survive, at the longest, beyond three
days; and I believe him liable to drop away within
twenty-four hours, although it is barely possible he may
live a week."
"Well," I replied, "one cause of suspicion, both with
my neighbors and myself was tliat, although the letters
from John Bayliss were all written by the same hand, the
last one was equally well written as the others, although
he was represented as so very low, with little hope of
recovery."
Here my ready-tongued doctor very thoughtfully placed
his hand to his forehead, but in a moment replied: "I will
tell you how that was. His fever was off at the time,
wliich enabled him to carry a steady hand."
" Well, of course," I replied, " we do not know that
any plan exists to remand these people back to slavery,
but we only judged of the possibilities. And for my part
I do not believe in regarding the wicked enactments of
men which contravene the laws of eternal right given by
God, who made of one blood all nations who dwell upon
the fiice of the earth, and of Christ, who left the realms
of glory to bring blessings to mankind, and a part of whose
mission was to unloose the heavy burdens and let the op-
6
6C A woman's life-work.
pressed go free. And in view of the golden rule given
by the great Lawgiver, I would not for my right hand
become instrumented in returning one escaped slave to
bondage. I firmly believe in our Declaration of Independ-
ence, that all men are created free and equal, and that no
human being has a right to make merchandise of others
born in humbler stations, and place them on a level with
horses, cattle, and sheep, knocking them off the auction-
block to the highest bidder, sundering family ties, and out-
raging the purest and tenderest feelings of human nature.''
'' That is all right," said the doctor, ''and I understand
your feelings. Slavery is the greatest curse upon our oth-
erwise happy country. But in this case there need be no
fear of any conspiracy to injure your colored friends ; and
I did hope, for the enke of Mr. Bayliss, they would come
and visit him, and gratify his dying request"
He then gave me some of the alarming symptoms of
his patient, enlarged on the sympathy he felt for him, and
finally proposed to go up and consult with his son-in-law
on the propriety of allowing me to see him in his present
exceedingly nervous state. He said if he was not spoken
to perhaps I might be allowed to look at him, as he was
kept under the influence of opiates, and was to-night in a
heavy stupor, and not disposed to talk to any one.
'' Would such an arrangement be any satisfaction to
you?"
I replied that, while it was immaterial to me, it would
probably satisfy the Hamilton iamily; and, after a few
minutes' consultation in the sick-room, he returned with
the conclusion that I might enter the room, but that no
loud word must be spoken, nor the sound of a footfall
permitted.
''But you can not see his face, as it is covered with
cloths wet in vinegar to draw the fever out, and he is now
in a doze, and I do not wish to disturb him."
He then described the terrible paroxysms, bordering on
SEEING THE PATIENT. 67
spasms, sufiered by his patient, in which it took four men
to hold him, and was eulogizing his wonderful fortitude
and Christian patience, when the son-in-law suddenly came
rushing into the room in his shirt^oeves and stockiog-feet,
and exclaimed :
" Doctor, doctor, do come quick ; &ther 's got another
spasm, and I do n't know what to do."
"Yes, yes," said the doctor, "ITl come; don't leave
your &ther a moment;'' and jumped up, apparently in
great excitement But at the door he halted to tell me
that these spasms indicated mortification, when the son-in-
law again opened the door with a bang and the exclamation :
"Doctor, why don't you hurry? Father is vomiting
again, and I 'm afraid he is dying."
At this they both rushed frantically up-etairs. In about
fifteen minutes the doctor returned, saying he had given
his patient a double dose of an opiate, and wonld let him
rest awhile. He then launched out into a description of
his treatment of Mr. Bayliss; how he had blistered him,
and performed a surgical operation on him which had
given him great pain; said he was attending him to the
n^lect of his other patients, and after exhausting a
large amount of eloquence on the subject returned to the
sick chamber. In a few moments he came back with the
information that I could now be admitted, and conducted
me to the room.
As soon as we stepped within the door the doctor
halted, but I stepped to the center of the room, as if I
had forgotten that I was only just to enter, and gazed at
the bed and then at the lounge opposite. The doctor
stepped to my side and said, "That is he on the bed yon-
der." I stood a moment and took a mental inventory of
the fflck man, who appeared full six feet tall and very
slender, not at all answering to the description of the
short, heavily built John Bayliss, of two hundred pounds
avoirdupois. Of course, a fit of sickness might reduce a
68 A wojcak's life-work.
man's flesh, but it did not appear to me aB especially likely
to increase his height As his face was covered with wet
cloths I could not see the round physiognomy of John
Bayliss, but passing my hand over the &ce I found it long
and thin featured. I whispered to the doctor that I
would like to notice his pulse. He said I could do so on
the jugular vein. I did so, and found the skin of this
fever-stricken man to be the natural temperature, but I
whispered to the doctor that I was not so accustomed to
noticing the pulse in that locality as at the wrist. After
some resbtance by the sick man, who finally yielded with
a long undertone groan, I found his wrist, and the full,
strong, regular pulse of a well man. There wajs now no
doubt in my mind that I was alone at this midnight hour,
far from home, in a room with three slaveholders.
As I stepped from the bed the doctor asked me if I
was satisfied. The thought flashed through my mind that
I had always contended that deception was lying, and that
no circumstances could justify it. But other thoughts also
came, and I replied that I was satisfied.
At this the son-in-law, who had apparently been sleep-
ing on the lounge, roused himself and commenced rubbing
his eyes, and looking at the doctor, said, ''Oh, doctor, do
you think &ther is any better ?"
**I can not conscientiously give you any hope," replied
the doctor.
**0h, dear!" he exclaimed, "what shall I do? I am
almost sick myself, taking care of him day and night If
I had only known that they were near Tecumseh, where I
lost my horse, I would have seen them ; but I hoped to
have found him better when I returned, instead of which
he was much worse."
At this I stepped towards him, and said: "If you are
the gentleman who was inquiring for a horse in our neigh-
borhood a few days ago, you called at Hamilton's house
and asked for a driuk of water."
SENDING A LETTER. 69
"What, that place where a black woman brought me
a glass of water r
"Yes; that was Hamilton's wife.*'
" Is it possible I that little log house where there was a
pile of pumpkins in the yard ?"
" Yes," I said.
"Oh! if I had only known it," he exclaimed, "we
would have had them here to help us. What trouble wo
have had. I reckon fisither will die, and I shall have to go
home alone. Grod knows we have had a bad trip of it/'
The careful doctor now began to fear we would disturb
the patient, and we were about leaving the room when he
suddenly exclaimed, "I want you tp see what black bilious
matter Mr. Bayliss vomited a while ago;" and, stepping
back, he brought me a white bowl two-thirds full of what
might have been the contents of a coffee-pot, with a bottle
of black ink thrown in, and a few spittles floating on top.
This, he told me, indicated mortification. We now passed
into the parlor, where we could talk without disturbing
the patient "Now, madam," as you are fully satisfied
with regard to Mr. Bayliss's illness, can 't you do something
to get the Hamiltons here ?"
"I am willing," I replied, "to do all in my power, but
see no better way than to inform them of the state of af-
fairs upon my return, and the train will leave for Adrian
at eight o'clock to-morrow morning." The doctor went up
stairs to see what word they wished to send, and soon re-
turned with the request that I should write to Hamilton to
come immediately, and the porter would go with the letter
for ten dollars, and his father would send another ten dollars
to Willis. I still insisted that my original plan was the
best, as the road through the cottonwood swamp was
almost impassable.
The son-in-law now entered, and after walking across
the floor a few times, with sighs and groans and bemoaning
his dire calamities, said his father wished the letter writter
70 A woman's life-work.
He returned to his &ther and the doctor went for writing
material. They closed the door behind them for a consul-
tation, I supposed.
The reader will remember that during all this time I
knew nothing of the experience of James Martin with this
afflicted trio, but had been compelled to grope my way
blindly. As the doctor and son-in-law went out my son
came in. He had overheard something about the writing,
and said, excitedly : '' Don't write, mother; there is no sick
man here. That tall man is Elsie's master, and they
threatened James's life when they had him up stairs."
''Daniel, I know there is no sick man here," I said;
*' but they do not think I dream of any plot It is now
midnight, and it is not wise to let them know that we dis-
trust them. Sit down and let us talk naturally."
The doctor now returned with writing material, and I
sat down to write while he conversed with my son on the
weather and kindred topics. Now my intention in writing
to Hamilton was to serve .these slaveholders by defeating
them. I knew, too, that disguising my hand-writing was
not enough to reveal to the Hamilton's that the letter was
a sham, and whatever I wrote would be subjected to the
perusal of my employers before it was sent At this hour,
too, a messenger could not probably be secured, even for
twenty dollars. But as I seated myself at the table and
took my pen in the manner in which I could appear to
serve the slaveholders, but in reality defeat them, it came
to me like a flash, and I cheerfully wrote all they dic-
tated, not omitting the &ct (?) that a council of physi-
cians had decided that John Bayliss could not live to
exceed three days ; and afler handing it to the doctor and
son-iu-law to read, I requested permission to add a few
lines on my own responsibility, which was readily granted, aa
I explained to them that Elsie would not be prepared with
regard to clothing, either for herself or children, to be away
so long, and I could easily loan her sufiicicnt garments.
JAME8 martin's STORY, 71
This, of course, was as happy a thought for them as
for myself, and was so received. '* Indeed, madam,** said
the son-in-]aw, " that will be very kind in you. They can
get ready so much quicker." 80 I added to my letter to
Willis as follows : '' Tell Elsie to take for herself the black
alpaca dress in the south bed-room, and the two pink
gingham aprons and striped flannel dresses in the bureau
in the west room for the little girls. To come to Adrian,
take the double team and farm wagon." I signed my
name and handed the letter to the delighted stranger. He
then gave my son a lighted sperm candle to light ns over
to the Indiana House, at that time the best hotel in Toledo,
and kept by Salter Cleveland and wife, anti-slavery friends
of ours. This light, however, served them to follow us,
as well asguide us to our haven of safety.
After settling ourselves with our friends to tell our ad-
ventures I had a chance to hear James Martin's story.
After the failure of my son to follow James and the porter
up stairs, James was of course entirely in the hands of the
enemy. At the head of the stairs they were met by an
elderly gentleman with a lamp, who offered to conduct
James to the sick room, and he was told to enter the first
right hand door. On opening the door he found no one
indside. ** Oh," said his guide, " they have moved him to
the next room, as was suggested by the council of physi-
cians this afternoon ; we will find him there ; " and opening
the door the stranger assumed an attitude of command
and told him to go in. James, however, replied : "I shall
not go in, sir; you can see as well as I that the room is
empty." The stranger gave a surprised look at the interior
of the room and said: ''Oh, I guess they moved him to
the &rther room, as some one suggested, after all. As
there is no other room he can be in, you will certainly
find him there."
By this time, of course, James began thoroughly to
distrust his conductor, and hesitated about going farther
72 A woman's life-work.
but doBiring to make all the discoveries possible, and think-
ing if violence was attempted he could run down stairs to
us, he passed on to the third door, and throwing it wide
open found this room also empty. He was about turning
back when two other men suddenly appeared through a
door at the left, and the three surrounded him, one level-
ing a revolver at his head, another at his breast, and the
third pointing a dirk at his side, all indulging in an in-
discriminate volley of oaths and threats. Said his grey-
haired guide (who afterwards proved to be John P. Ches-
ter, Elsie's master, the same who had enacted to me the
role of the sympathetic physician), '* If you stir or speak
one word we 'U kill you. Go into that room, or you 're a
dead man." In this position they entered the room and locked
the door. ** Now, Hamilton, we 've got you, damn you."
'*My name is not Hamilton, but James Martin," was
James' reply.
"Damn you," rejoined Chester, "I know you; you
were once a slave in Tennessee."
"No, sir, I never was a slave, nor was I ever in a slave
state. I was born and brought up in the State of New
York."
" Then you 're a d d spy, and I 've a great mind
to shoot you this minute," said Chester.
" If you call me a spy because I came here to see Mr.
John Bayliss for Mr. Hamilton, then you can do so, for this is
why I am here, and I came here with no intention of harm
to any one. I am entirely unarmed, I have not so much
as a })enknife with which to defend myself, but I tell you,
gentlemen, I have friends here in this house."
At this they dropped their weapons as by an electric
shock, and Chester exclaimed, "You shan't be hurt! you
shan't be hurt!" Then turning to his son: "Tom, put up
your pistol."
"But," says Tom, "I propose to search him and see
whether he 's clear of arms."
THE slave-holder's CONFESSION. 73
"No! you shan't do it. I reckon it's as he says."
James, seeing that they were thoroughly intimidated,
now felt at his ease. The Southerners, of course, did not
know but a posse of armed men awaited their actions
instead of one little woman and a lad of seventeen. Ches-
ter now addressed James in a subdued tone and manner,
asking him to sit down, ''and 111 tell you all about it.
Mr. John Bayliss is here and he is very sick; he is not
expected to live. But I am Elsie's master; my name is
John P. Chester, and I bought her out of pure benevo-
lence to save her from going down the river with a drove.
Willis was going from house to house begging for some
one to buy his wife, crying and taking on like he was
nearly crazy, and I felt sorry for him, and told him if he
would help me buy her by paying three hundred dollars
in work for me, I could do it, and he entered into a writ-
ten agreement with me that I was to feed and clothe him
the same as my other servants, and give him a good price
for his work ; but before he had been with me a year he
took my property and ran away with it, and now I want
to get it back."
" Why don't you go and get it then?" said James.
"Oh, there 's such a set of d d abolitionists there I /"
can 't do it," said Chester. '' Hamilton wrote to me that he
had put in ten acres of wheat this fall on shares on a
widow lady's &rm, and that he had a yoke of oxen, two
cows, pigs and chickens."
"Yes," said James, " that is all true."
"Well," said. Chester, "you can have all he has there,
besides any amount of money you please to name, if you
wQl assist me in getting him and his family here. Will
you do it?"
James replied, very carelessly, "Well, I don't know
but I will for enough.''
" You see," said Ch^ter, " if I can get them here, I
can get help from one place to another in Ohio, and whe^
7
74 A woman's life-work.
I strike Kentucky I 'd be all right." In laying plans and
making arrangements they consumed two hours' time, and»
as the reader will remember, I became nervous and sent
for James, after which I had my experience with the doc-
tor and the sick man.
After finding ourselves quietly seated with our friends
in their private parlor, before we had fidrly finished re-
lating our adventures, the night watch came in with the
report that three men were pacing around the house at
about equal distances, whom he suspected to be burglars^
Orders were given to keep the outside rooms lighted, and
if any attempt was made to enter to ring the alarm bell
and assistance would be forthcoming. Morning light, how-
ever, revealed to the watchmen that their suspected burg-
lars were the three Southerners, who had stopped at the
Indiana House a few days, but not finding co-operation
probable in their slave-hunting business, had changed their
quarters to the Toledo Hotel. I recognized my doctor and
the son-in-law; and the other, a tall, slender young man
of twenty-two, was my sick and suffering deacon, who an
hour previous had been so near death's door. Their object,
of course, in guarding the house, was to see that we sent no
messenger to defeat the letter I had so kindly written for
them. But on this matter I gave myself no concern, as
Elsie y,as as weU acquainted with my wardh,be as I was,
and would know at once that it contained no such articles
as I mentioned ; also, that the house had no south bed-
room, and no bureau in the west room, neither was there
ft double team nor a farm wagon on the place. Consequently
I had no fears that the letter was not &,ithfully fulfilling
its mission.
A few minutes before we left the hotel for the
8 o'clock train to return home a colored man came to
James, evidently quite excited, and said: "We have just
heard there is a colored man here having trouble with
■^ave-holders ; if this is true, there are enough of us here
FOLLOWED BY 8LAVf>-HUNTERS. 75
to do whatever is necessary." James did not reply, but
looked inquiringly at me. I replied, ** There is trouble,"
and taking him into a back room, gave him a brief sketch
of James's experience. I told him I did not think it prob-
able that violence would be offered in daylight, but as Mr.
Cleveland and son were both ill, we would like to know
who our friends were at the depot. He assured me we
should have all the aid we needed. '* While at the depot,"
said he, *' we shall watch both you and the slave-holders,
and whatever you desire us to do, madam, say the word,
and it shall be done." I thanked him, but did not think
there would be any difficulty.
The three Southerners were at the depot as soon as we
were. In the ticket office James gave up going, as he
thought they intended going with us. But this I did not
care for, and told James he must go now, as there was no
other train until night, and there was no telling what they
might do under cover of darkness. When we got to the
cars the doctor and son-in-law jumped aboard, but the sick
man was determined to take his seat with me, and followed
my son and myself from coach to coach, and whenever
we showed any signs of seating ourselves prepared to seat
himself opposite. I looked at his snakish eyes, and con-
cluded to leave my sick deacon to see James, who still lin-
gered in the ticket office.
I again urged him to go with me, as I should take an-
other coach when I returned and get rid of the Souther-
ners. When I returned I ran past the coach I had left,
and Daniel beckoned to me, saying, " Here, mother, this
is the car we took." ** Yes," I said, ** but I see a lady
ahead that I wish to sit with." At this the sick man
jumped up and exclaimed, **ni be d d if I don't
take that seat then." But Daniel pressed his way past
him, and noticed his heavily-laden overcoat pocket. By
the time my son reached me there was no room near us
for the sick deacon, so he returned to his first seat.
1
76 A woman's life-work.
During all this time about a dozen men, black and
white, were watching us closely. I beckoned the one who .
called on us at the hotel to come to our apartments, and '
told him to tell James to come immediately to my door.
He came, and I opened the door and told him to enter, as
the train was about moving. When he was inside he says : I
'* I am afraid we will have trouble. ** Just then the con- ^
ductor passed, and I said to him : *' I suppose we will be
perfectly safe here, should we have trouble on our way to
Adrian.'' '^ Most certainly," he said (raising his voice to
the highest pitch). *'I vouch for the perfect safety and j
protection of every individual on board this train.'* !
Near Sylvania, a small town ten miles from Toledo, the ]
train halted to sand the track, and our chivalrous friends
got off. Chester and his son Thomas, the sick deacon,
stationed themselves about three feet from us ; and Ches-
ter, pointing to James, said in a low, grum voice : ** We 'U
see you alone some time ; " and, turning to my son, ** You,
too, young man." Then directing his volley of wrath to
me, he roared out: **But that lady there — ^you nigger |
stealer — ^you that 's got my property and the avails of it — ■,
I'll show you, you nigger thief;" and drawing a revolver j
from his pocket, his son doing the same, they pointed them
towards my face, Chester again bawling out, ** You see
these tools, do you? We have more of 'em here" (holding
up a traveling bag), "and we know how to use them. We
shall stay about here three weeks, and we will have that
property you have in your possession yet, you d d nig-
ger stealer. We understand ourselves. AVe know what
we are about"
*' Man, I fear neither your weapons nor your threats ;
they are powerless. You are not at home — ^you are not in
Tennessee. And as for your property, I have none of it
about me or on my premises. We also know what we are
about; we also understand, not only ourselves, but you."
Pale and trembling with rage they still shook their pis-
RETURN HOME, 77
tols in my face, aud Chester, iu a choked voice, exclaimed :
•'I'll — ^111 — I won't say much more to you — ^you're a
woman — ^but that young man of yours ; I '11 give five hun-
dred dollars if he '11 go to Kentucky with me."
Just then the conductor appeared and cried out : '* What
are you doing here, you villainous scoundrels? We '11 have
you arrested in dve minutes." At this they fled precipi-
tately to the woods, and the last we saw of these tall and
valiant representatives of the land of chivalry were their
heels &st receding in the thicket.
Of course, this brave exhibition of rhetoric and valor
called out innumerable questions from the passengers; and
from there on to Adrian, though already terribly fatigued,
we had to be continually framing replies and making ex-
planations.
Among the people of Sylvania the news spread like
wildfire, and it was reported that over forty men were at
the depot with hand-spikes and iron bars, ready to tear up
the track in case the Hamilton family had been found on
the train bound for Toledo.
When we arrived at Adrian my oldest son, Harvey,
and Willis were there to meet us; and when we told Willis
that Elsie's old master and his son had but an hour pre-
viously pointed pistols at our heads and threatened our
lives, he could hardly speak from astonishment. Harvey
said my letter arrived before sunrise, but that no one be-
lieved I had any thing to do with it. However, as the
porter swore he saw me write it. Professor Patchin and J.
F. Dolbeare were sent for ; but they also distrusted its va-
lidity and the truthfulness of the bearer.
Elsie had no faith iu it at all. ** If," said she, *^ the
old man is so very sick, as he has n't seen us for years,
they could bring him any black man and woman, and call
them Willis and Elsie, and he 'd never know the difference ;
and as for that letter, Mrs. Haviland never paw it. I Ix^-
lieve the slave-holders wrote it themselves. They thought
78 A woman's life-work.
as she ivaa a widow, she 'd have a black dress, and you
know she has u't got one in the house. And where 's the
pink aprons aud green striped dresses? And there's no
south bed-room in this house. It's all humbug; and I
sha' n't stir a step until I see Mrs. Haviland."
Said another: ''These things look queer. There's no
bureau in the west room."
The porter, seeing he could not get the ikmily, ofiered
Willis ten dollars if he would go to Palmyra with him,
but he refused. He then offered it to my son Harvey if
he would take Willis to Palmyra.
** No, sir ; I shall take him nowhere but to Adrian, to
meet mother," was Harvey's reply.
After their arrival in Adrian the porter again offered the
ten dollars, and Lawyer Perkins and others advised Harvey
to take it and give it to Willis, as they would protect him
from all harm. But when I came I told him not to touch
it ; and the porter, drawing near, heard my explanation of
the letter, and the threatening remarks of the people, who
declared that if slave-holders should attempt to take the
Hamilton family or any other escaped slave from our city
or county they would see trouble. He soon gave us the
benefit of his nbsence, and we went home with thankful
hearts that public sentiment had made a law too strong to
allow avaricious and unprincipled men to cast our perse-
cuted neighbors back into the seething cauldron of Amer-
ican slavery.
All that day our house was thronged with visitors,
eager to hear the story which w^as agitating the whole com-
munity, but about midnight I told my friends that rest
was a necessity, for never in my life was I so thoroughly
exhausted from talking; but, as the next day was the
Sabbath, I would in the evening meet all who chose to
come in the Valley School-house (at that day the largest
in the county) and tell them the whole story, and save
"^peating it so many times.
MERTINQ AT THE SCHOOL-HOUSE. 79
When the evening came we met a larger crowd than
could find standmg-room in the school-house, and report
said there was a spy for the slave-holders under a window
outside.
I related the whole story, omitting nothing, and waa
followed by Elijah Brownell, one of our ablest anti-slavery
lecturers, with a few spirited remarks. He suggested that
a collection should be taken up to defray our expenses to
Toledo and return, and fourteen dollars was soon placed
in my hands.
From a friend of our letter-carrier, the porter of the
Toledo Hotel, we learned that the plans of the slave-holders
accorded with those given James Martin in the sick-room.
After getting the Hamilton family in their clutches they
intended to gag and bind them, and, traveling nights,
eonvey them from one point to apother until they reached
Kentucky. This was precisely on the plan of our under^
ground railroad, but happily for the cause of freedom, in
this case at least, not as successful.
The citizens of Adrian appointed a meeting at the .
court-house, and sent for me to again tell the story of the
slaveholder who had so deeply laid his plans to capture,
not only his fugitive slave Elsie and her four children, but
also her husband, who was a free man. Other meetings
were called to take measures for securing the safety of the
hunted &mily from the iron grasj> of the oppressor, whose
arm is ever strong and powerful in the cause of evil ; and
so great was public excitement that the chivalrous sous of
the South found our Northern climate too warm for their
constitutions, and betook themselves to the milder climate
of Tennessee with as great speed as their hunted slave,
with her husband, hastened away from there fifteen years
before.
It may be asked how the Chesters discovered that
Hamilton and his wife were in Michigan. We learned
afterward that John P. Chester was the postmaster at
80 A woman's life-work.
Jonesborough, and receiving a letter at his office directed
to John Bayliss, he suspected it to be from friends of his
former slave, and opened it. His suspicions being con-
firmed, he detained the letter, and both corresponded and
came North in the assumed character of Bayliss. His
schemes miscarried, as we have above narrated, and Bayliss
probably never knew of the desperate game played in
his name.
About two weeks after the departure of this noble tno
I received a threatening letter from John P. Chester, to
which I replied ; and this was followed by a correspond-
ence with his son, Thomas K. Chester (the sick deacon).
From these letters we shall give a few extracts.
In a letter received under the date of December 3,
1846, John P. Chester writes: **I presume you do not
want something for nothing; and inasmuch as you have
my property in your possession, and are so great a philan-
thropist, you will feel bound to remunerate me for that
property. ... If there is any law of the land to
eompd you to pay for them I intend to have it"
In my reply, December 20, 1846, 1 wrote :
"First, convince me that you have property in my
possession, and you shall have the utmost farthing. But
if Willis Hamilton and family are property in my posses-
sion, then are Eev. John Patchin and wife, principals of
Raisin Institute, and other neighbors, property in my pos-
session, as I have dealing with each family, precisely in the
same manner that I have with Willis Hamilton and family,
and I do as truly recognize property in my other neighbors
as in the Hamilton family. Prove my position &llaciou8,
and not predicated on principles of eternal right, and
they may be blown to the four winds of heaven. If
carnal weapons can be brought to bear upon the spiritual
you shall have the liberty to do it with the six-shooters
you flourished toward my face in Sylvania, Ohio. . . .
'* As for my being compelled to pay you for this alleged
AN INSULTING LETTER, 81
property, to this I have but little to say, as it is the least
of all my troubles in this lower world. I will say, how-
ever, I stand ready to meet whatever you may think
proper to do in the case. Should you think best to make
us another call, I could not vouch for your safety. The
circumstances connected with this case have been such that
great excitement has prevailed. A number of my neigh*
bors have kept arms since our return from Toledo. I can say
with the Psalmist, ' I am for peace, but they are for Avar.'
'' At a public meeting called the next evening after our
return from the Toledo trip, fourteen dollars was placed in
my hands as a remuneration for the assistance I rendered
in examining your very sick patient. I found the disease
truly alarming, far beyond the reach of human aid, much
deeper than bilious fever, although it might have assumed
a typhoid grade. The blister that you were immediately
to apply on the back of the patient could not extract
that dark, deep plague-spot of slavery, too apparent to be
misunderstood."
I received a long list of epithets in a letter, bear-
ing date, Jonesboro, Tennessee, February 7, 1847, from
Thomas K. Chester, the sick deacon :
"I have thought it my duty to answer your pack of
balderdash, . . . that you presumed to reply to my
father, as I was with him on his tour to Michigan, and a
participant in all his transactions, even to the acting the
sick man's part in Toledo. . . . True it is, by your
cunning villainies you have deprived us of our just rights,
of our own property. . . . Thanks be to an allwise
and provident God that my father has more of that sable
kind of busy fellows, greasy, slick, and fat ; and they are
not cheated to death out of their hard earnings by villainous
and infernal abolitionists, whose philanthropy is interest,
and whose only desire is to swindle the slave-holder out of
his own property, and convert its labor to their own
infernal aggrandizement.
82 A woman's life-work.
''It is exceedingly unpleasant for me to indulge in
abuse, particularly to a woman, and I would not now do
it, did I not feel a perfect conBciousness of right and
duty. . . • Who do you think would parley with a
thief, a robber of man's just rights, recognized by the glo-
rious Constitution of our Union I Such a condescension
would damn an honest man, would put modesty to the
blush. What I to engage in a contest with you ? a rogue,
a damnable thief, a negro thief, an outbreaker, a criminal
in the sight of all honest men ; . . . the mother, too, of
a pusillanimous son, who permitted me to curse and damn
you in Sylvania I I would rather be caught with another
man's sheep on my back than to engage in such a subject,
and with such an individual as old Laura Haviland, a
damned nigger-stealer. . . .
'' You can tell Elsie that since our return my &ther
bought her eldest daughter ; that she is now his property,
and the mother of a likely boy, that I call Daniel Havi-
land after your pretty sou. She has plenty to eat, and has
shoes in the Winter, an article Willis's children had not
when I was there, although it was cold enough to freeze
the horns off the cows. . . . What do you think your
portion will be at the great day of judgment ? I think it .
will be the inner temple of hell."
In my reply, dated Raisin, March 16, 1847, 1 informed
the sick deacon that my letter to his &ther "had served
as a moral emetic, by the mass of black, bilious, and putrid
matter it had sent forth. You must have been exercised
with as great distress, as extreme pain, that was producing
paroxysms and vomiting, that you had in your sick-room
in the Toledo hotel, when your physician was so hastily
called to your relief by your son-in-law, as the matter that
lies before me in letter form is as 'black,' and much
more 'bilious,' and nearer 'mortification' than that I
saw there.
" We thank you for the name's sake. May he possess
A slave-holdek's letter. 83
the wisdom of a Daniel of old, although his lot be cast iu
the lions' den; and, like Moses, may he become instru-
mental in leading his people away from a worse bondage
than that of Egypt.
•'According to your logic, we are not only robbing
the slaveholder, but the poor slave of his valuable home,
where he can enjoy the elevating and soul-ennobling priv-
ilege of looking * greasy, slick, and fiit' — can have the
privilege of being forbidden the laborious task of culti-
vating his intellect — is forbidden to claim his wife and
children as his own instead of the property of John P.
Chester.'*
I pitied the young man, whose bitterness of hate seemed
incorrigible, and gave advice which I deemed wholesome,
although I yielded to the temptation of dealbg somewhat
in irony and sarcasm.
But the next letter from the sick deacon was filled and
running over with vulgar blackguardism, that I would
neither answer nor give to the public eye. It was directed
to "Laura S. Haviland, Esq., or Dan." As it arrived in
my absence, my son Daniel handed it to Eev. John Patchin,
who became so indignant in reading the list of epithets that
he proposed to reply.
The first sentence of his letter was :
** Sir, — ^As John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay were
seated in Congress, they saw passing on the street a drove
of jackasses. Said Henry Clay, ' There, Mr. Adams, is a
company of your constituents as they come from the
North.* 'All right; they are going South to teach yours,'
was the quick reply. And I think one of those long-
eared animals has strayed down your way, and your ma
might have sent you to his school — ^I think, however, but
a few weeks, or your epistolary correspondence with Mrs.
Haviland would have been vastly improved."
From the report my son gave me of the short epistle,
it was filled with sentences couched in the same spir"
84 A woman's life-work,
throughout; "for," said he, **that rabid fire-eater has been
treated in a manner too mild. He needs something more
nearly like his own coin."
I shortly after received a few lines from Thomas K.
Chester, informing me that he had my last letter struck
off in hand-bills, and circulated in a number of the South-
ern States, "over its true signature, Laura S. Havilaud,
as you dictated and your daughter wrote it; for, as strange
as it may appear, I have the handwriting of every one of
your &mily, and also of Willis Hamilton. I distribute
these hand-bills for the purpose of letting the South see
what sort of sisters they have in the North." We learned
/ from a number of sources that to this circular or hand-bill
was attached a reward of $3,000 for my head.
As for the letter that Chester had richly earned, nei-
ther my daughter nor myself had the privilege of perusing
it, as it was mailed before my return home. But I pre-
sume the indignant writer designed to close the unpleasant
correspondence.
SECOND EFFORT TO RETAKE THE HAMILTON FAMILY.
After the passage of the &mous Fugitive-slave Bill of
- 1850, turning the whole population of the North into slave-
A hunters, Thomas K. Chester, with renewed assurance, came
to Lawyer Beecher's office, in Adrian, and solicited his serv-
ices in capturing the Hamiltons, as he was now prepared to
take legal steps in recovering his property. Said he :
'^ I ask no favors of Adrian or Baisin, as I have my
posse of thirty men within a stone's throw of this city.
All I ask is legal authority from you, Mr. Beecher, and I
can easily get them in my possession."
**I can DDt aid you," said Mr. Beecher; "it would
ruin my practice as a lawyer."
** I will give you $100, besides your fee," rejoined Chester.
"You have not enough money in your State of TfftP
iicssee to induce me to assist you in any way whatr ff^x!*
A lawyer's advice. 86
" Will you direct me to a lawyer who will aid me?"
*' I can not ; I know of none in our State who could
be hired to assist you. And I advise you to return to
your home ; for you will lose a hundred dollars where you
will gain one, if you pursue it."
At this advice he became enraged, and swore he would
have them this time, at any cost. ''And if old Laura Havi-
land interferes I '11 put her in prison. I acknowledge she
outwitted us before; but let her dare prevent my taking
them this time, and I 'U be avenged on her before I leave
this State."
''All the advice I have to give you is to abandon this
scheme, for you mil find no jail in this State that will hold
that woman. And I request you not to enter my office
again on this business, for if it were known to the public it
would injure my practice; and I shall not recognize you
on the street."
In a lower tone Chester continued, "I request you,
Mr. Beecher, as a gentleman, to keep my name and busi-
ness a secret." With a few imprecations he left the office.
My friend R. Beecher sent a dispatch to me at once
by Sheriff Spafford, to secure the safety of the Hamilton
family at once, if stiU on my premises, as my Tennessee
correspondents were probably in or near Adrian. I in-
formed him they were safe in Canada within six months
afler the visit from the Chesters. Mr. Beecher also ad-
vised me to make my property safe without delay, but
this had been done two years previously. On receiving
this information my friend Beecher replied, "Had I known
this I would have sent for her, for I'd give ten dollars
to see them meet." Mr. Chester heard that the Hamilton
family had gone to Canada, but he did not believe it, as
he also heard they had gone to Ypsilanti, in this State,
where he said he should follow them.
We learned in the sequal that he went to Ypsilanti,
and took >;poms and board in a hotel, while calling op
\
^
86 A woman's life-work.
every colcred family in town and for two or three miles
around it, sometimes as a drover, at other times an agent
to make arrangements for purchasing wood and charcoal.
During four weeks he found a iamily that answered the
description of the Hamilton fiunily in color and number.
He wrote to his father that he had found them under an
assumed name, and requested him to send a man who
could recognize them, as they had been away over eighteen
years. The man was sent, and two weeks more were spent
in reconnoitering. At length both were agreed to arrest
David Grordon and wife, with their four children, as the
Hamilton family, and applied for a warrant to take the
family as escaped slaves. The United States Judge, Hon.
Ross Wilkins, who issued the warrant, informed one of
the most active underground railroad men, George De
Baptist, of this claimant's business. He immediately tele-
graphed to a vigorous worker in Ypsilanti, who sent run-
ners in every direction, inqiiiring for a Eb^milton family.
None could be found ; and the conclusion was reached that
they were newcomers and were closely concealed, and the
only safe way was to set a watch at the depot for officers
and their posse, and follow whithersoever they went, keep-
ing in sight This was done, and the place they found
aimed for was David Gordon's. On entering the house
the officer placed hand-cuffs on David Gordon, who in sur-
prise asked, ''What docs this mean?"
Said the officer, '' I understand your name is Willis
Hamilton, once a slave in Tennessee."
Gordon replied, "No, sir, you are mistaken; I never
was in that State ; neither is my name Hamilton, but Gor-
don, and I have free papers from Virginia."
" "Where are your papers? If they are good they shall
gave you."
Pointing to a trunk, ''There they are; take that key
and you 11 find them."
While the officer was getting the papers, Chjii^^r went
A BAFFLED SLAVB-HOJL.DER. 87
to the bed of the sick wife, placed a six-shooter at her
head, and swore he 'd blow her brains out in a moment if
she did not say their name was Hamilton. *' No, sir, our
name is Gordon.'' Their little girl, standing by, cried out
with fear. He turned to her, with pistol pointmg toward
her face, and swore he 'd kill her that instant if she did
not say her father's name was Willis Hamilton.
At this juncture, the officer's attention was arrested.
** What are you about, you villain ? You *11 be arrested be-
fore you know it, if you are not careful. Put up that
pistol instantly, and if these papers are good, I shall re-
lease this man, and return the warrant unserved."
He examined them and said, '* These papers I iiud
genuine." He then removed the handcuffi) from David
Gordon, and with the discomfited Thomas K. Chester and
Tennessee companion returned to the depot for the Detroit
train.
AVhile on their way they met a colored man that Chester
swore was Willis Hamilton. Said the officer, **You know
not what you are about; I shall arrest no man at your
command."
On returning the unserved warrant to Judge Wilkius,
Chester charged him vrith being allied with the ** d d
abolitionist, old Laura Haviland, in running off that family
to Maiden, to keep me out of my property."
"I knew nothing of the family, or of your business,
until you came into this office yesterday," replied the judge.
In a rage and with an oath, he replied, '*I know, sir,
your complicity in keeping slave-holders out of their prop-
erty, and can prove it." He threw his hat on the floor
and gave a stamp, as if to strengthen his oath.
The judge simply ordered him out of his office, instead
of committing him to prison for contempt of court ; and
with his companion he went back to his Tennessee home,
again defeated.
Thomas K. Chester wrote and had published scurrilous
88 A woman's life-work.
articles in Tennessee, and in a number of other Southem
States. They were vigorously circulated until the following
Congress, in which the grave charge was brought against
.the judge, ** of being allied with Mrs. Haviland, of the inte-
rior of the State of Michigan, a rabid abolitionist, in keeping
Y slaveholders out of their slave property." A vigorous effort
was made by Southern members to impeach him, while
his friends were petitioning Congress to raise his salary.
Judge Wilkins was sent for to answer to these false charges.
Although they failed to impeach him, yet on account of
these charges the addition to his salary was lost.
When these false accusations were brought into Con-
gress, and the judge was informed of the necessity of his
presence to answer thereto, he inquired of Henry Bibb
and others where I was. They informed him that I was ab-
sent from home. On mv return from Cincinnati with a few
^ underground railroad passengers, I learned of the trouble
Judge Wilkins met, and I called on him. He told me of
the pile of Southern papers he had received, with scurri-
lous articles, designed to prejudice Southern members of
Congress against him. Said he, ''Although they failed in
the impeachment, they said they would come against me
with double force next Congress, and should effect their
object." Said the judge, ** I want your address, for if they
do repeat their effort, with the explanation you have now
given, I think I can save another journey to Washington."
The judge was never again called upon to defend himself
on this subject, as their effort was not repeated; neither
did their oft-repeated threat to imprison me disturb us.
DEATH OF THE CHESTERS.
In the third year of the Rebellion, while in Memphis,
Tennessee, on a mission to the perishing, I found myself
in the city where my Tennessee correspondents livedj^^gw
years previous to their deaths. From a m mister a^who had
long been a reffldent of that dty, and had al<»)^]iyed near
DEATH OP THE CHESTEBS. 89
JonesboTO, where they resided duruig the correspondence,
I learned the following fiicts: A few years prior to the
war John P. Chester removed with his family to Memphis,
where he became a patroler. His son Thomas transacted
business as a lawyer. I was shown his residence, and the
office where John P. Chester was shot through the heart
by a mulatto man, whose free papers he demanded, doubt-
ing their validity. Said the man, '* I am as free as you arc ;
and to live a slave I never shall." He then drew a six-
shooter from its hiding-place and shot him through the heart.
He fell, exclaiming, '^ O God, I'm a dead man." The man
threw down the &tal weapon, saying to the bystanders,
''Here I am, gentlemen, shoot me, or hang me, just as you
please, but to live a slave to any man I never shall." Ho
was taken by the indignant crowd, and hung on the limb of
a tree near by, pierced with many bullets. I can not de-
scribe the feeling that crept over me, as I gazed upon the
pavement where John P. Chester met his fate, and which
I had walked over in going to officers' head-quarters from
the steamer. Oh I what a life, to close with such a
tragedy I
Thomas K. Chester being a few rods distant ran to
assbt his dying father, but his life was gone ere he reached
him. A few months later he was brought from a boat
sick with yellow fever, and died in one week from the
attack in terrible paroxysms and ravings, frequently requir-
ing six men to hold him on his bed. He was ill the same
length of time that they &lsely represented a few years
l)efore in the Toledo hotel. Said the narrator, ''Thomas
K. Chester's death was the most awful I ever witnessed.
He cursed and swore to his last breath, saying he saw his
father standing by his bed, with damned spirits waiting to
take him away to eternal burnings."
After a long walk one day, I called at the former resi-
dence of the Chester &mily, and was seated in the front
parlor. It is' hard to imagine my feelings as I sat in tl
8
90 A WOMAN^S LIFE-WORK.
room where thoee two men had lain in death's cold em-
brace— men who had flourished toward my face the six-
shooter. It was by this kind of deadly weapon the life of
one was taken ; and as nearly as words can describe the
feigned sickness, the last week of the life of the other was
spent No wonder the blood seemed to curdle in my veins in
contemplating the lives of these men, and their end. It
is beyond the power of pen to describe the panorama that
passed before me in these moments. The proprietor of
the Toledo hotel lost custom by his complicity in their
efforts to retake their alleged slave property. A few
months after the hotel was burned to ashes.
A BOGUS SCHOOL-TEACHER, 91
Chapter IV.
AN OHIO SCHOOL-TEACHER.
In the Autunin of 1847 a gentleman of evident culture
called for early breakfast, though he had passed a public
house about two miles distant. I mistrusted my stranger
caller to be a counterfeit ; and told him, as I had the care
of an in&nt for a sick friend, he would find better fare at
the boarding hall a few rods away. But introducing him-
self as an Ohio school-teacher, and accustomed to boarding
around, he had not enjoyed his favorite bread and milk
for a long while, and if I would be so kind as to allow him
a bowl of bread and milk he would accept it as a favor.
He said he had heard of our excellent school, and wished
to visit it He was also acting as agent of the National
Era, published at Cincinnati, in which he was much in-
terested, and solicited my subscription. I told him I knew
it to be a valuable periodical, but, as I was taking three
abolition papers he must excuse me.
He was also very much interested in the underground
railroad projects, and referred to names of agents and sta-
tions, in Indiana and Ohio, in a way that I concluded he
had been on the trail and found me, as well as others, and
perhaps taken the assumed agency of the Era for a cov-
ering. He said it was found necessary in some places in
Ohio and Indiana to change the routes, as slave-holders had
traced and followed them so closely that they had made
trouble in many places, and suggested a change in Mich-
igan, as there were five slave-holders in Toledo, Ohio, when
he came through, in search of escaped slaves. I replied
that it might be a good idea, but I had not considered it
sufficiently to decide.
V
92 A woman's life-work.
Continuing his arguments, he referred to a slave who
was captured by Mr. B. Stevens, of Boone Count}', Ken-
tucky. He saw him tied on a horse standing at the door
of an inn where he was teaching. In surprise, I inquired :
''Did that community allow that to be done in their
midst without making an effort to rescue the self-made
freeman?"
'' O yes, because Stevens came with witnesses and pa-
pers, proving that he legally owned him ; so that nothing
could be done to hinder him."
'' That could never be done in this community; and I
doubt whether it could be done in this State."
** But what could you do in a case like that?"
** Let a slave-holder come and try us, as they did six
months ago in their effort to retake the Hamilton family,
who are still living here on my premises, and you see how
they succ^ded ;" and I gave him their plans and defeat
'' Let them or any other slave-holders disturb an escaped
slave, at any time of night or day, and the sound of a tin
horn would be heard, with a dozen more answering it in
different directions, and men enough would gather around
the trembling fugitive for his rescue. For women can
blow horns, and men can run. Bells are used in our school
and neighborhood; but if the sound of a tin horn is heard
it is understood, a few miles each way from Baisin Insti-
tute, just what it means."
Looking surprised, he answered : ** Well, I reckon you
do understand yourselves here. But I do n't see how you
could retain one legally if papers and witnesses were
on hand."
"Hon. Boss Wilkins, United States judge, residing in
Detroit, can legally require any fugitive so claimed to be
brought before him, and not allow any thiug^ to be done
until the decision is reached. And there are many active
workers to assist escaping slaves in that city, who would
rush to their aid, and in ten minutes see them safe in
HUNTING FOR JOHN WHITE. 93
Canada. I presume if the slave claimant should come
with a score of witnesses and a half-bushel of papers, to
prove his legal right, it would avail him nothing, as we
claim a higher law than wicked enactments of men who
claim the misnomer of law by which bodies and souls of
men, women, and children are claimed as chattels."
The proprietor of the boarding hall desired me to allow
him to inform the stranger of our suspicions, and invite
him to leava But I declined, as I had reached the con-
clusion that my visitor was from Kentucky, and probably
in search of John White, whose master had sworn that he
would send him as iar as wind and water would carry him
if he ever got him again. Professor Patchin and J. F.
Dolbeare called to see him, and conversed with him about
his agency for the £m, etc ; and brother Patchin invited
him to attend the recitations of the classes in Latin and
geometry. The second was accepted, as mathematics, he
said, was his favorite study.
By four o'clock P. M., the hour of his leaving, the tide
of excitement was fast rising, and one of the students offered
to go and inform John White of the danger we suspected,
and advise him to take refuge in Canada until these Ken-
tuckiaus should leave our State.
We surmised that the five slave-holders he reported in
Toledo were his own company, which was soon found to be
true. One of my horses was brought into requisition at
once for the dispatch-bearer ; but he had not been on his
journey an hour before we learned that our Ohio teacher
inquired of a boy on the road if there had been a mulatto
man by the name of White attending school at Raisin
Institute the past Winter.
" Yes, sir.'*
" Where is he now ?"
" He hired for the season to Mr. Watkins, near Brook-
lyn, in Jackson County."
Iliis reimrt brought another ofTcr to l)€Couie dis[Hitch-
94 A woman's life-work.
bearer to the hunted man. The following day found John
White in Canada.
Two days after George W. Brazier, who claimed John
White as his property, and the man who had lost the
woman and five children, with their two witnesses, and
their lawyer, J. L. Smith, who recently made me an all-
day visit, entered the lowest type of a saloon in the town
near by, and inquired for two of the most besotted and
wickedest men in town. Being directed according to their
novel inquiry, the men were found and hired, making their
number seven, to capture John White. The field in which
he had been at work was surrounded by the seven men at
equal distances. But, as they ncared the supposed object
of their pursuit, lo! a poor white man was there instead
of the prize they were so sure of capturing. They repaired
to the house of Mr. Watkins, and inquired of him for the
whereabouts of John White. The frank reply was :
'' I suppose he is in Canada, as I took him, with his
trunk, to the depot, yesterday, for that country.**
At this Brazier poured forth a volley of oaths about
mcj and said he knew I had been there.
" Hold on, sir, you are laboring under a mistake. We
have none of us seen her ; and I want you to understand
that there are others, myself included, who are ready to
do as much to save a self-freed slave from being taken
back to Southern bondage as Mrs. Haviland. Mr. White
is highly esteemed wherever he is known ; and we would
not see him go back from whence he came without making
great effort to prevent it."
At this Brazier flew into a rage, and furiously swore he
would yet be avenged on me before he left the State."
** I advise you to be more sparing of your threats. We
have a law here to arrest and take care of men who make
such threats as you have here," said Mr. Watkins.
With this quietus they left for Tecumseh, four miles
^Viatant from us.
BRUTISH THREATS. 95
While at Snell's Hotel liiey displayed on the bar-room
table pistols, dirks, and bowie-knives, and pointing tb
them, said Brazier, '^Here is what we use, and we'll have
the life of that d d abolitionist, Mrs. Haviland, before
we leave this State, or be avenged on her in some way.''
The five men then in haste jumped aboard the stage for
Adrian. As the authorities were informed of these threats,
and Judge Stacy was going to Adrian on business, he pro-
posed to leave with a friend he was to pass the import of
these threats, fearing they might quit the stage while pass-
ing through our neighborhood, and under cover of night
commit their deeds of darkness. I received the note, and
told the bearer I accepted this as the outburst of passion
over their defeat,^ and did not believe they designed to
carry out these threats, and requested the excited family to
keep this as near a secret as possible, during a day or two
at least, to save my children and the school this exciting
anxiety. But I could not appear altogether stoical, and
consulted judicious friends, who advised me to leave my
home a night or two at least. This was the saddest mo-
ment I had seen. I felt that I could not conscientiously
leave my home. **If slaveholders wish to call on me they
will find me here, unless I have business away." They in-
asted that I should keep my windows closed after dark,
and they would send four youug men students, to whom
they would tell the secret, with the charge to keep it
unless disti^bance should require them to reveal it. We
received information the following day that the five Ken-
tuckians took the cars for Toledo on their arrival at
Adrian. Their threats increased the excitement already
kindled, and neighbors advised me not to remain in my
house of nights, as there might be hired emissaries to exe-
cute their will. Some even advised me to go to Canada
for safety. But rest was mine in Divine Providence.
The following week I accompanied an insane friend
with her brother to Toledo. The brother wishoil inc tt) go
96 A woman's life-work.
to Monroe on business for them. He soon informed me
that the five Kentuckians were in the same hotel with us,
and he overheard one say that I had no doubt followed
them to see whether they had found any of their run-
fiwnjs, and that one of their party was going wherever
I did to watch my movements. This friend also saw them
consulting with the barkeeper, who sat opposite at break-
fast table, and introduced the defeated stratagem of the
Tennessee slave-holders at the Toledo hotel a few months
previously. Said he, "I believe you are the lady who
met them there. Some of us heard of it soon after, and
we should have rushed there in a hurry if there had been
an attempt to take a fugitive from our city. They might
as well attempt to eat through an iron wall as to get one
from us. I am an abolitionist of the Garrison stamp, and
there are others here of the same stripe." And in this
familiar style he continued, quite to my annoyance, at the
table. He came to me a number of times after breakfast
to find what he could do to assist me in having the hack
take me to whatever point I wished to go.
** Are you going east, madam?"
** Not to-day."
" Or are you designing to go south, or to return on the
Adrian train?"
** I shall not go in either direction to-day,"
Leaving me a few moments, he returned with inquiring
whether I was going to Monroe, and giving as the reason
for his inquiries the wish to assist me. I informed him I
was going to take the ten o'clock boat for Monroe. I
learned in the sequel that they charged me with secreting
the woman and five children, and aiding their flight to
Canada; but of them I knew nothing, until my Ohio
teacher informed me of their flight, and while I was sus-
pected and watched by their pursuers, we had reason to
believe they were placed on a boat at Cleveland, and were
''''^ in Canada.
A VISIT TO JANE WHITE. 97
We learned that their lawyer made inquiries while iu
my neighborhood whether my &rm and Baisin Institute
were entirely iu my hands. When they became satisfied
of the fact they left orders for my arrest upon a United
States warrant, to be served the following Autumn, if they
failed to recover their human property. About the expira-
tion of the time set George W. Brazier went with a gang of
slaves for sale to Baton Bouge, Louisiana, and died suddenly
of cholera. There his projects ended, and John White
soon returned to his work in Michigan.
These circumstances delayed my prospect of going to Cin-
cinnati and Bising Sun to learn the condition of his family,
But as money had been raised by the anxious husband and
father and his friends, I went to Cincinnati, where I fouud \
my friends, Levi Coffin and family. The vigilant committee
was called to his private parlor, to consult as to the most
2)rudeut measure to adopt iu securing an interview with
Jane White, John's wife, whose master, Benjamin Stevens,
was her &ther, and the vaiu hoi)e was indulged that ho
would not make an effort to retake the family should they
make a start for freedom. The committee proposed that I
should go to Bising Sun, and, through Joseph Edgerton
and Samuel Barkshiro and families, obtain an interview
with Jane White, as they were intelligent and well-to-do
colored friends of John White's in Bising Sun.
Accordingly I went, and called on Joseph Edgerton's
eating-house. On making my errand known, there was
great rejoicing over good news from their esteemed friend
Felix White, as John was formerly called. In conferring
with these friends and Samuel Barkshure, they thought the
errand could be taken to Jane, through Stevens's foreman
dave, Solomon, who was frequently allowed to cross the
river on business for his master, and was looked for the
following Saturday. But as we were disappointed, Joseph's
wife, Mary Edgerton, proposed to go with me to Benja-
min Stevens's, ostensibly to buy plums. As there was :
9
98 A woman's life-work. -
trace of African blood perceivable in her, and the Stevens
family, both white and colored, had seen her mother, who
was my size, with blue eyes, straight brown hair, and skin
as &ir as mine, there was no question as to relationship
when Mary introduced me to Jane and her sister Nan as
Aunt Smith (my maiden name). It was also known to
the Stevens family that Mary was expecting her aunt from
Georgia to spend a few weeks with her. When we en-
tered the basement, which was the kitchen of the Stevens
house, twelve men and women slaves just came in from the
harvest-field for their dinner, which consisted of "com
dodgers" placed in piles at convenient distances on the
bare table, made of two long rough boards on crossed legs.
A large pitcher filled as full as its broken top would allow
of sour milk, and a saucer of greens, with a small piece
of 2X)rk cut in thin slices, were divided among the hands,
who were seated on the edge of their table, except a few
who occupied stools and broken chairs. Not a whole
earthen dish or plate was on that table. A broken knife
or fork was placed by each plate, and they used each
other's knife or fork, and ate their humble repast with ap-
parent zest. I have given this harvest dinner in detail, as
Benjamin Stevens was called a remarkably kind master.
It was frequently remarked by surrounding planters ** that
the Stevens niggers thought they were white."
As we were infoi:med they had no plums for sale, Mary
proposed filling our '"buckets" with blackberries, as there
were an abundance withii^ a short distance, and asked
Jane if she or Nan could not go and show us the way.
"I'll go an' ask Misus Agnes," replied Nan, who soon re-
turned with the word that Jane might go, as she wanted
to make another batch of jam. *' But she says we must
get dinner for Mary and her aunt first" A small table-
cloth was placed over one end of the table, and wheat
bread, butter, honey, and a cream-pitcher of sweet milk
was brought down for us. Not a child of the nine Utile
A REVELATION. 99
ones playing in the kitchen asked for a taste of anything
during or after our meal. All that was left was taken up
stairs, and we were invited to call on Mrs. Agnes, who re-
ceived us cordially. She was teaching Jane's oldest daugh-
ter, of seven years, to sew. After a few minutes chat with
the mistress, we left for blackberries.
When out of sight, I told Jane I was the one who
wrote a letter for her husband, Felix White, to her, and
directed it to Samuel Barkshire, who told me he read it to
her, but did not dare take it from his house, but took the
braid of his hair tied with blue ribbon, sent in the letter.
She looked at me in amazement for a moment, when she
burst into a flood of tears. As soon as she could command
her feelings she said her master had told her that he had
heard from Felix, and that he was married again, and was
riding around with his new wife mighty happy. When I
gave her the errand from her husband she was again con-
vulsed with weeping. Said she, "I would gladly work
day and night, until my fingers and toes are without a
nail, and willingly see my children work in the same
way, could we only be with Felix." Poor heartbroken
woman, she sighed like a sobbing child. But two of her
children were out a few miles with one of the Stevens mar-
ried children, to be gone two months, and she sent a re-
quest to her husband to come on the sly to assist in bring-
ing their children away after the return of the absent ones,
so that all might go together. I assisted her in picking
berries, as she had spent so much of her time in talking
and weeping her mistress might complain. I gave her a
kittle memento from her husband, and left the poor heart-
stricken, crushed spirit
The daughter and grandchildren of the master with*
held them from going to their natural protector, yet he
was called one of the best of slave-holders. Here was a
woman and sister whose widowhood was more desolate than
even death had made my own. And her poor children
100 A woman's life-work.
were worse than fatherless. I returned to my home and
anxious children and friends.
But the grieved husband felt confident his intimate
friend William Allen, who would have left for freedom
long ago but for his wife and child, would assist Jane and
the children could he know from him how many warm
friends there were in the North to assist them. His friends,
as well as himself, were anxious to make another trial
without the risk of his going into the lion's den. Means
being provided, three months later found me again in Ris-
ing Sun. After a little waiting to see William Allen, I
took a boat and went four miles below on the Kentucky
side, and called at the house of his master to wait for a
boat going up the river within a few hours.
As they were having a great excitement over counter-
feiters, and were makiug great efforts to find the rogues,
and looking upon every stranger with suspicion, I was be-
lieved by my host to be one of them in disguise. Within
an hour after my arrival the sheriff and a deputy were
brought into an adjoining room. The lady of the house
appeared excited. Her little girl inquired who those
strange gentlemen were ; she replied the sheriff and his dep-
uty. I looked up from the paper I was busily reading, and
entered into conversation with the lady of the house, when
I overhead one man say, **I don't think there is anything
wrong about that woman." This remark led me to sup-
pose I might be the object of the undertone conversation
among the gentlemen in the adjoining room. Soon after
the three gentlemen came into the room, with whom I
passed the usual *' good aflernoon." One, whom I took to
be the sheriff, made a few remarks over fine weather, etc.,
and all three returned to their room. Said one, in a low
voice, **I tell you that woman is all right; she's no coun-
terfeiter." My excited hostess became calm, and quite
social, and made excuses for having to look after the cook-
ing of her turkey, as she allowed her cook to spend this
I>'TERVIEW WITH WILLIAM ALLEX. 101
Sabbath with her husband in visiting one of their friends.
*'And I always burn and blister my hands whenever I
make an attempt at cooking. But my cook is so faithful
I thought I would let her go to-day."
As I gave up the idea of seeing William Allen, I was
about to go to the wharf-boat and wait there for the five-
o'clock boat But she urged me to take dinner with them,
as I would have plenty of time. After dinner they di-
rected me across a pasture-field that would shorten the
half-mile. Just out of sight of the house I met William
Allen, with his wife and little girl of ten years. As they
were so well described by John — or Felix, as he was hero
known — I recognized them, and gave the message from
their friend, from whom they rejoiced to hear. He said
he longed to be free, and thought two weeks from that
day he could go over to Samuel Barkshire's to see me.
During this time he would deliver the message to Jane.
At pcesent, he said, it would be very difficult crossing, as
there was great excitement over men that passed a lot of
counterfeit money in that neighborhood, and they were
watching for them. I told him it was not safe for us to
talk longer there, as they were slaves, and I was not free
to be seen talking with them, and gave them the parting
hand, informing them that many prayers of Christian
people of the North were daily ascending for the deliver-
ance of the slave. ''May God grant the answer!'' was the
heartfelt reply.
Daring the two weeks Mary Scott was introduced, who
had recently bought herself, with her free husband's aid.
She related to me the sad condition of her sister, Rachel
Beach, who was the slave of Mr. Kay, the brother of
Wright Ray, of Madison, Indiana, the noted negro catcher.
She was the kept mistress of her master, who held her and
her five children, who were his own flesh and blood, as his
property. After her sister Rachel's religious experience,
she was much distressed over the life she was compelled *
102 A wojiak's life-wobk.
lead with her master. She had often wept with her weep-
ing sister. When she thought of escaping, she could not
leave her five little children to her own sad fieite. As I
was informed that Mary Scott was a reliable Christian
woman, I gave her a pkn, and names of {lersons and places
of safety, with a charge not to stop over the second night —
if possible, to avoid it— at the first place named ; for it was
too near her master^s brother, Wright Bay, as he would
make great efibrts to retake them.
This plan was adopted. But they were kept two days
at Luther Donald's station, which brought them into great
difficulty. He was so well known as the slave's friend it
was unsafe to secrete fugitives on his own premises ; and
he placed them in an out-house of one of his friends. On
the second night of their flight, when they were to be
taken to the next station, Wright Bay was on their track,
and entered the neighborhood at dark twilight, filling it
with excitement on the part of both friends and foes. The
cry of a child brought a neighbor to their hiding-place,
who told her she was uusafe ; but he would take her and
the children to his barn, where they would be perfectly
secure. Soon after her new friend lefl her she felt in great
danger, and when her children were asleep in their bed of
stalks she ventured to place herself by the road-side.
Here she heard horses coming, and listened to hear the
voice of their riders, to see if she could recognize her first
friends, as they had told her they were going to take them
to another place of safety that night; but, to her grief,
she heard the voice of Wright Bay, with his posse. Filled
with fear of capture, she groped her way still farther back
in the dark. After her pursuers passed she heard two men
coming, in low conversation. She prayed fbr direction,
and felt impressed, as she said, to tell these men her
trouble. They proved to be her friends, who missed them as
they went to take their suppers. As Bay and his company
^**ere known to be in town, they knew not but they were
IN SUSPENSE* 103
captured. Runners were sent to the usual resorts of slave-
hunters, to see if any clew could be learned of the fate of
the missing family.
*' O, how I prayed God to deliver me in this my great
distress I" she said, in relating her flight in my interview
with her in Canada. She led her two friends to the barn,
from whence her sleeping children were removed ; but by
the time they reached the road they saw the lantern, and
heard rustling of stalks by her pursuers. A^ her new
friend was a well-known friend to slave-hunters, she and
her children were still in great danger. She was dressed
in men's clothing, and her girls dressed like boys, and they
were taken out in diflerent directions. Kachel and the
youngest child her guide took to a Quaker neighborhood,
while two men took each two girls on their horses and took
different roads to other places of safety; but no two of
the three parties knew of the others' destination. Two
days of distressing anxiety were passed before a word
reached the mother from her children. Not knowing but
they were back to their old Kentucky home, she could
neither eat nor sleep for weeping and praying over the
probable loss of her children. But her joy could not find
expression when two of them were brought to her. At
first sight of her darlings, she cried out, '* Glory to God !
he has sent me two more. But where, O, where are the
other two?" The two men who brought these in their
close carriage could give no tidings, as they had heard
nothing from them since leaving Donald Station. Bachel
continued weeping for her children because they were not.
On the following day they were heard from, and that they
would be l)rought on the following day, P. M.
A number of the neighbors were invited to witness the
meeting. Among them was a strong pro-slavery man and
his family, who had often said the abolitionists might as
well come to his bam and steal his horse or wheat as to keep
slave-holderB out of their slave property; yet he was np'
104 A woman's lifk-work.
urally a sympathetic man. This Quaker abolitioDist knew
it would do him good to witness the anticipated scene.
The knowledge of the prospective arrival of the children
was carefully kept from the mother until she saw them
coming through the gate, when she cried aloud, as she sank
on the floor, *' Glory; hallelujah to the Lamb! You sent
me all." She sobbed as she clasped them to her bosom,
continuing, in an ecstasy, "Bless the Lord forever 1 He
is 80 good to poor me." The little girls threw their arms
around their mother's neck, and burst into a loud cry for
joy. " But the weeping was not confined to them," said
our Quaker sister, who was present. *' There was not a
dry eye in that house; and our pro-slavely neighbor cried
as hard as any of us."
After the excitement died away a little, said one,
"Now, we must adopt a plan to take this family on to
Canada."
The pro^lavery man was the first to say, "111 take
my team, and take them where they '11 be safe, if I have
to take them all the way."
Another said, "It is cold weather, and we see these
children have bare feet; and we must see about getting
them stockings and shoes and warm clothing."
And the little daughter of him who had so generously
offered his services in aiding this family beyond the reach
of danger sat down on the carpet and commenced taking
off hers, saying, " She can have mine."
" But, Lotty, what will you do?" said the mother.
".O, papa can get me some more."
" Yes, papa will get you some more," said her fisither,
wiping his eyes ; " and your shoes and stockings will just
fit that little girl." And the mother could hardly keep
her from leaving them. But she told her to wear them
home and put others on, then bring them back.
Said our informant, "I will warrant that man will
'^ereafter become a stockholder."
DEATH OP FIRST-BORN. 105
But the rescue ot the Beach family cost Luther Douald
his farm.. He was sued and fouud guilty of harboring
runaway slaves and assisting them to escape. But not one
seuteuce of truthful evidence was brought against him in
court ; although he did aid the Beach family when a stay
of three minutes longer in their dangerous hiding-place
would have secured their return to a life of degradation.
Friends of the fugitive made up the loss in part, and the
God of the oppressed blessed him still more abundantly.
He was diligent in business, serving the Lord.
While rejoicing over the safe arrival of the Beach
family in Canada, heavy tidings reached me from home.
In a letter I was informed of the illness of my eldest son.
Before the boat arrived that was to bear me homeward a
second letter came with the sad intelligence of the death
of my first-bom. Oh, how my poor heart was wrung with
anxiety to learn the state of his mind sa he left the shores
of time. Why did not the writer relieve me by giving
the information I most needed? And yet I was advised
to remain until the weather became more mild. I had a
severe cough that followed an attack of pneumonia, and
jihysicians had advised me to spend the Winter in a milder
climate. But this bereavement seemed impelling me to
return to my afflicted children. But more than all other
consideratious was to learn the state of that dear child's
mind as he was about leaving the land of the dying for
the spirit world of the living. He had been a living Chris-
tian, but during the year past had become more inactive,
and in a conversation on the subject a few days previous
to my leaving, he expressed regrets in not being more
faithful. He urged me to take this trip, yet I could not
but regret leaving home. '' Oh my son, my son Harvey,
would to God I had died for thee T In this distress, border-
ing upon agony of soul, I walked my room to and fro, pray-
ing for an evidence of his condition. In the conversation
above alluded to he expressed a sincere desire to returr
106 A woman's life-work.
Said he, ''I am too much like the prodigal, too far away
from my Savior." How vividly did his words come before
me. Oh, how these words ran through my miud iu this
hour of sore trial Is this the Isaac, I dwelt upon as I wps
leaving my home, that I may be called to sacrifice? -*!
had in mind my son Daniel, who was fearful I would
meet trouble from slave-holders, as he remarked to his
brother Harvey, " Mother is a stranger to fear, though slic
might be in great danger .**
''That &ct, seems to me, secures her safety ,** replied
Harvey.
As I overheard this conversation I shrank firom the
trial of leaving my home circle, in which death had made
such inroads, and for the time being doubted whether I
was called upon to make the sacrifice. But prayer was
now constant for an evidence of my son's condition, whether
prepared for exchange of worlds. He who spake peace to
the troubled sea granted the answer of peace, with an
assurance that my prayer was answered, and that in his
own good time he would make it manifest
I took the boat for Cincinnati, and on the morning
after my arrival at the home of my valued friends, Levi
Coffin and wife, I awoke with a comforting dream, which
but for the circumstances I would not record. I find in the
written Word of divine truth that God, at sundry times,
made himself known to his faithful servants in dreams.
And he is the same in all ages, in answering their peti-
tions and meeting their wants. In the dream I thought I
was living iu the basement of a beautiful mansion. Being
rather dark, damp, and cool, I looked for some means of
warming my apartments, when I discovered the windows
conveyed beautiful rays of sunlight sufficient to dry and
warm apartments designed for only a temporary residence,
as my future home was to be in the splendid apartments
above, which I was not to be permitted to enter until
the work assigned me in the basement was done. While
A COMFORTING DREAM, 107
busily engaged in sweeping my room, and arranging my
work, I saw my sou Harvey descending from the upper
portion of this limitless mansion, which I thought was now
his home. I hastened to the door to meet him. As the
thought struck me that he had been a slave, I cried out,
"My son Harvey, art thou free?"
" Oh yes, mother, I o,mfree; and I knew your anxiety,
and I came on purpose to tell you that I went to my Mas-
ter and asked if he would grant my pardon? And he
looked upon me and saw me in my blood as I plowed in
the field, and he said I should be free and live."
"Oh, what a relief is this glad news," I replied.
" I knew you desired me to go for my freedom long ago,
but I did not know that my liberty would be so easily
granted — -just for asking. I am now free, indeed.".
This message delivered, ho ascended to his glorious
home above. I awoke with the words of this message as
clearly impressed upon my mind as if vocally spoken. I
opened the Bible at the head of my bed, and the first
words that met my eye were these : " I saw Ephraim cast
out in the open field ; I saw him in his blood, and I said
live; and he shall live." With promises given by him
with whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning,
my heart was filled with praise and thanksgiving for the
Comforter who grants peace such as the world knows not
of. Very soon a letter came with the detailed account of
the last hours of my son Harvey, in which he left a bright
evidence of his preparation for the future life. He sent
for Bev. John Patchin, of Saisin Institute, of whom he
requested prayer; at the close of which he followed in
fervent prayer for himself and loved ones. Then brother
Patchin inquired if perfect peace was his at this hour?
"It is," he answered; "I am ready to go," and he soon
fell asleep in Jesus.
I remained a few weeks longer ; but the close search for
counterfeiters made it difficult for William Allen to cross
108 A WOMAN^S LIFE-WORK.
The request was repeated by John White's wife for him to
come for them. I returned home with the consciousness
of having done all that I could in delivering the messages
as requested. The husband and father could not feel recon-
ciled to give up his family to a life of slavery, and went for
them, and brought them a few miles on the Indiana side,
above Rising Sun. They secreted themselves during the
day in the woods, and with the aid of his friend and Solo-
mon Stevens's slave, previously alluded to, who was also
attempting to escape with the family, he made a raft upon
which they were about to cross a creek to reach the team
on the opposite side. Suddenly six armed men pounced
upon them, and captured the family, with Solomon. To
save John from the hazardous attempt to defend his family,
his friend held him back in the thicket, knowing the effort
must fail. As he was not allowed to move he sank back
in despair in the arms of his friend. He had risked his
own life and liberty in his attempt to rescue them. He
learned that George W. Brazier swore he would chop him
into inches if he ever got possession of him again. After
his unsuccessful effort in Michigan he offered six hundred
dollars for his head, dead or alive. Benjamin Stevens also
offered six hundred dollars reward for his daughter and his
five grandchildren, with Solomon. He afterwards sold
them all for the very low price of one thousand dollars,
wdth the proviso that they were not to be sold apart
But poor Jane was not left long to grieve over her dis-
appointed hopes. She died of cholera. We heard she
went rejoicing in that hope that reaches beyond the vale.
They were taken to Lexington, Kentucky, but the grieved
husband and father again made his way northward. Ho
was two weeks in reaching a settlement that was said to be
friendly to ftigitive slaves. Forty miles distant from his old
Kentucky home he assumed the name of James Ajrmstroi^.
The family upon whom he ventured to call appeared very
lud, and the man told him he would take him the next day
JOHN WHITE A PRISONER. 109
to a Quaker settlement, but he suspected he was reported to
Wright Bay aud posse, who came into the house and bound
him. Placing him on one of their horses, they took him
through fields and back roads until they crossed the Ohio
river, and lodged him in the Woodford jail, a short dis-
tance from the river, nearly opposite Madison, Indiana.
Wright Ray had no idea of having in his possession John
White, who had so recently eluded his grasp in his unsuc-
cessful trip with Brazier in Michigan. He found among
his papers in which were advertisements of escaped slaves,
Henry Armstrong advertised as belonging to the widow
Armstrong, of Maysville, Kentucky. With her Wright
Bay had an interview, hoping to arrange for the reward,
which she refused to give, for he had been away so long,
he would be of little use, as Henry was willed free at
her death. But she told him if he could get enough from
him to pay him for his trouble, he might do so. Conse-
quently he made him an oficr to release him for four hun-
dred dollars, and encouraged him to write to his friends
in Michigan to aid him to that amount. He wrote to a
Bon-tn-law of Mr. Wat kins, so as not to mention a name
of persons the men had to do with in Michigan, and the
letter was brought to us. We all understood the writer
to be our friend John White.
A few friends were consulted as to the measures to be
adopted. It was proposed that I should go to Cincinnati,
and there make such arrangements as the friends might
think proper. Aa they proposed to bear my expenses, I
said, '* If you send me, I shall go to-morrow morning."
''But," replied the bearer of the letter, ''as it is the
Sabbath, I suppose I should hesitate."
** It was lawful on the Babbath to lift a sheep out of
the ditch in the days of Moses, and is not a man better
than a sheep?"
" I can not answer you. All I have to say is, follow
the dictates of your own conscience."
110 A WOMAN^S LIFE-WORK.
I took the stage at Toledo, and in tbree days I was
consulting the vigilance committee in Levi Coffin's council
chamber. As it would not do for me to transact business
with Wright Bay, Micajah White, nephew of Catherine
Coffin, offered to go as soon as the money was obtained.
Levi Coffin introduced me to Dr. Judkins, of whom I
hired the money, but hoped to lessen the amount if pos-
sible, in the arrangement with Wright Eay. I urged on
the nephew the necessity of taking the first boat for Mad-
ison, as every hour endangered the safety of John White.
Whatever was done for him must be done quickly.
Wright Ray was found very willing to accept three hun-
dred and fifty dollars, which was placed in the hands of
the clerk of the boat until his prisoner was delivered to
his friends in Cincinnati, when Micajah White agreed to
see the money paid to Wright Ray. This was done, and
within three weeks from the time I left home I returned
with John White. The day after John's release Brazier
appeared at the jail, having heard that he was there.
But he was too late.
A few months after John White's release from Wood-
ford jail George W. Brazier went to Baton Rouge, Louis-
iana, with a gang of slaves for sale, and suddenly died of
cholera, just before the time fixed for his return. It was
said he intended to make a second effort to capture John
White, or to arrest me with United States warrant. Time
rolled on, and John F. White married a young woman in
Canada, his home a number of years. Afl^r the late war
he removed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to educate his chil-
dren. When we last heard of his first children, his oldest
daughter was married to Solomon, the ex-slave of Benja-
min Stevens. We rejoice that brighter days are dawning.
Ethiopia is stretching out her hands to God.
mrS KCAPED SLAVES. Ill
Chapter V.
THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY.
As mj mitried children had charge of the farm, and
the younger ones were in school, and well provided for,
I spent a few months in mission work and nursing thev
sick. My dear fiiends, Levi and Catherine Coffin, had
given jnc a very cordial invitation to make their house my
home whenever I was in Cincinnati. Soon after my ar-
rival, at early dawn, nine slaves crossed the river, and
were conducted to one of our friends on Walnut Hills for
safety, until arrangements could be made to forward them
to Victoria's domain. I called on them to see what was
needed for their Northern march, and found them filled
with fear lest they should be overtaken. As there was a
prospect before them of being taken down the river, they
concluded to "paddle their own canoe." They had with
them their five little folks, that seemed as full of fear as
were their trembling parents. A little girl of five years raised
the window-shade to look out. When her mother discov-
ered her she exclaimed, in a half-smothered voice, " Why,
Em! you 11 have us all kotched, if you don't mind ;" and
the little thing dropped behind a chair like a frightened
young partridge hiding under a leaf at the mother's alarm
of danger. While making our plans, we were greatly re-
lieved to find that the well-known Quaker conductor, Will-
iam Beard, was in the city, with a load of produce from
his farm. This covered market-wagon was a safe car, that
had borne many hundreds to his own depot, and was now
ready for more valuable freight before the city should be
filled with slave-hunters. But few weeks elapsed befor
112 A woman's life-wobx.
we learned of the safe arrival of thMe two families that
we fitted for their journey to Canada.
One of our vigilance committee came early one morn-
ing to inform us that there were two yoimg men just ar-
rived, who were secreted in the baaemeat of Zion Baptist
Church (colored). As their hom« vatf only twenty-five
miles from the river, it was neoessaiy to make all possible
speed in removing them before Kentucky slave- hunters
should block our track. I took their measures, to procure
for each a Summer suit, and went to our store of new and
second-hand clothing, at Levi Coffin's, where anti-slavery
women met tri-monthly, to ariend a day in making and jre-
pairlug clothing for fugitive liaves. In early evening I
took a large market-basket, with a suit for each, and had
them conducted to a safer hiding-place, until a way opened
for them Jx> go to a Friends' settlement, about eighty miles
distantly where George chose to remain and work a few
months. But James would not risk his liberty by tarrying,
and censured George for running such a risk. "You
need n't think your new name 's gwine to save you when
ole massa comes."
But little did James understand the deep-hidden reason
that kept his friend George behind. He worked fiiithfuUy
nearly a year, kept the suit I gave him for his Sunday
suit, and used his old Kentucky suit for his work, patching
them himself, until patch upon patch nearly covered the
old brown jeans of his plantation wear. When warm
weather again returned, without revealing his design of
going back to his master in Kentucky, for he knew his
abolition friends would discourage his project, he took the
eighty dollars he had earned since he left his master, and
wore the suit of clothes he brought away, and in the dark-
ness of night went to his wife's cabin. Here he gave a
full history of the kind friends who had paid good wages
for his work, and said he was going to take all to his
master, and tell him he was sick of freedom; "and you
TOM BETUBNS TO SLAVERY. 113
mus' be mighty mad," he went on, *' 'case I come back ;
and say, * If he 's a mind to make sich a fool of his self,
as to be so jubus, 'case I talked leetle while wid Jake, long
time ago, as to run off an' leave me, he may go. He
need n't think I '11 take 'im back ; I won't have nothin' to
say to 'im, never!' An' 111 quarrel Iwut you too; an'
when all ov 'em is done fussin' 'bout me comin' back, I '11
steal to you in a dark night, an' lay a plan to meet on
Lickin' Siver; an' we'll take a skiff an' mufBe oars till
we get to the Ohio ; an' I knows jus* whar to go in . any
dark night, an' we '11 be free together. I did n't tell Jim
I 's gwine to make massa bleve all my lies to get you ; for
I tell you, Liz, I ain't got whole fireedom without you."
Before eight o'clock A. M. George stood before his
master, with his old name and old plantation suit, present-
ing him with the eighty dollars he had earned for his
master since he had left his home, that he never wanted to
leave again. For he had found ''abolitioners the greates'
rascals I ever seen. I wants no more oV em. They
tried hard to git me to Canada; but I got all I wants
of Canada. An' I tell you, Massa Carpenter, all I wants
is one good stiddy home. I do nt want this money ; it 's
youm."
His master was well pleased, and told all his neighbors
how happy his Tom was to get back again, and gave all
the money he had earned since he had been gone. It was
a long time before neighboring planters had the confidence
in Tom that his master had, and they told him that Tom
should never step his foot on their plantations ; but he told
them all that he had perfect confidence in Tom's honesty.
"He came back ])erfectly disgusted with abolitionists; he
said they will work a fellow half to death for low wages.
And he even patched his old suit, himself, that he wore off.
And I have found the reason why he left. He and Liz
had a quarrel, and now he don't care a fig about her;
and I heard yesterday that her master says he'll shor
10
114 A woman's lifb-wobk.
him if he dares to come on his plantation. But he needn't
worry ; for you could n't hire Tom to go near Liz."
Tom's master told him all the planters were afraid of
him, and said he would play a trick on him yet.
''I'll stay at home, then, and won't even go out to
meetin's, till all ov 'em will see I means what I says."
** That 's right, Tom ; they do n't know you like I do.
But I told them 't would do all the niggers good just to
hear your story about the meanness of abolitionists. You
know, Tom, that was just what I told you, that they pre-
tended to be your friends, but they were your worst
enemies."
'' Yes, massa, I al'us bleved you ; and if Liz had n't
cut up the way she (Jjd I never *d tried 'em."
All things went on smoothly with Tom. He was never
more trusty , -diligent, and faithful in all that pertained to
his master's interest. Three months still found him con-
tented and happy, and the constant praise he received from
his master to his neighbors began to inspire them with
sufficient confidence to permit him to attend their meetings
occasionally, though he did not appear anxious to enjoy
that privilege until his master proposed his going, and then
he was careful to attend only day meetings. Neighboring
white people oilen talked with him about his Northern
trip, and all got the story he had told his master, until
Tom became quite a pet missionary, as his reports went
far and near, among both whites and blacks. After Liz*
zie's master became quite satisfied with her hatred toward
Tom, he allowed the hound, which he kept over two
months to watch for Tom, to go back to the keeper.
Though Tom and Lizzie lived eight miles apart, they bad
a secret dispatch-bearer, by whom they reported to each
other ; but visits were very few and far between.
One day, in her *'clarin-up time," Lizzie came across a
bundle containing a Bunday suit, placed in her cabin when
Tom left for the North, which she took occasion to have a
GEORGE AND MARY ESCAPE. 115
good quarrel oyer. Taking them into her mbtress, the mas-
ter being present, she said, ''Missus, what '11 1 do wid dese
ole close Tom lef, when he get mad an* run'd off to spite me ;
now 111 bum 'em up or giv' 'em to de pigs for nes', I aint
gwine to hav' 'em in my way any longer."
''Oh, don't bum 'em up, can't you send 'im word to
come and get 'em 7"
"I sends 'im no word, if he never gets 'em; I'd heap
better giv* 'em to de hogs."
Turning to another house servant, her mistress said,
" Dil, you tell Page's Jim when he goes to that big meet-
ing your people are going to have next week, to tell Tom
to come and take his truck away, or Liz will pitch 'em
in the fire for 'im."
But there was no hurry manifest, after he got the
word. Tom's master told him he had better go and get
his clothes or Liz might destroy them. Said our George,
"One Saturday evenin' I went to have my las' quarrel
with Lizzie. I called her bad names, an* she flung back mean
names, an' twitted me ^vith runnin' away to make her feel
bad, when she didn't care a picayune for me; an' I tole
her I never wanted to see her fiico agin, an' we almos' cum
to blows."
A few months after this there was a holiday, and Tom
was so &ithful, his master gave him permission to visit
his aunt, six miles distant in an opposite direction from
Lizzie's home, and she too got permission to visit her
friends five miles away, but not toward's Tom's master.
The plan laid in his midnight visit was to start after sun-
down, and go until dark in the direction of the place each
had their permission to go, and then go for Licking River ;
and she was to go up the river, while he was to go down,
until they met He was to secure the first skiff with oars
he could find to aid them down the river with all possible
speed to the Ohio. They succeeded in making good time
after they met, until day dawn overtook thcra, when they
116 A woman's lAFErWOBK.
hid the skiff under a clump of bushes, and the oars they
took the precaution to hide some distance awaj in case the
skifi was discovered and taken away. They secreted them-
selves still further in the woods, but not so far but they
could watch their tiny craft through the thicket Much
to their discomfiture a number of boys found their skiff,
and had a long hunt for the oars, but not succeeding, fur-
nished themselves with poles and pushed out of sight to
the great relief of the temporary owners, so near being dis-
covered during the hunt for the oars. At ten o'clock,
when all was still, they crept out of their hiding-place, took
their oars, and hunted two hours before they found another
skiff. Though smaller and harder to manage than the one
they lost, yet they reached the Ohio just at sunrise. Two
men on the opposite side of Licking River hallooed, ** Where
are you going?"
"To market, sir.''
" What have you got?"
"Butter an' eggs, sir."
As he saw them in the skiff and pushing toward them,
he expected every moment to be overhauled, but he pulled
with all his might for the opposite shore, and did not dare
look back until they had reached the middle of the river,
when, to their great relief, the two men had given up the
chase and turned back, and had almost reached the place
of their starting. He said Lizzie trembled so hard that
the coat over her shook, so great was her fear. Said Liz-
zie, ** I reckon the owner of the coat shook as hard as I
did when you was pulliu' for life. I specs you sent fear
clare down into them paddles you's sweattin' over;" and
tlicy had a good laugh over fright and success.
With George there was no fear after entering the base-
ment of Zion Baptist Church, his old hiding-place. As
soon as the report came to us that a man and his wife had
, just arrived, I called to learn their condition and needs,
and asked the woman who had charge of the basement to
LEAVE WITH SEVEN FUGITIVES. 117
tell them a friend would call to see them, as new-comers
were always so timid. A voice from the adjoining room
was heard to say, '*Come right in, Mrs. Haviland, we are
not afraid of you ;" and as the frigitive clasped my hand
in both of his, I exclaimed, ''Where have you seen me?"
''Don't you mind Jim and George you giv* a basket
full of close to las' Summer ? You giv* me the linen pants
an' blue checked gingham coat and straw hat, an' you giv
Jim thin pants and coat and palm-leaf hat; and don't
you mind we went out in a market-wagon to a Quaker
settlement?"
" Yes, but liow came you here again ?"
"It was for this little woman I went liack." Then he
went over his managing process, as above related.
As I was soon to go to my home in Michigan, it
was proposed by our vigilance committee that this couple,
with Sarah, who made her escape over a year previously,
should go with me. Sarah was to be sold away from
her little boy of three years for a fancy girl, as she
was a beautiful octoroon and attractive in person. She
knew full well the &te that awaited her, and succeeded
in escaping. She was an excellent house servant, and
highly respected by all who made her acquaintance for her
sterling Christian character and general intelligence. She
had lived in a quiet Christian family, who gave her good
wages, but she did not dare to risk her liberty within one
hundred miles of her former home.
A few days after the arrival of George and wife a
mulatto woman and her daughter of sixteen, bound South
fit>m Virginia, left a steamer and joined our company.
While waiting for a certain canal-boat, the owner and cap-
tain being friendly to our work, another young man joined
UB. These we received at different points to avoid sus-
picion. Before we reached the third bridge we were over-
taken by Levi Coffin with another young man, whom he
Lad instructed implicitly to regard all the lessons I migh'
118 A woman's life-wobk.
give hiiD. I gave them all a charge to say nothing of go-
ing farther than Toledo, Ohio, and talk of no farther
hack than Cincinnati.
While on our way George pointed at a wire, and told
his wife it was a telegraph-wire, at which she dodged back,
and for a moment seemed as badly frightened as though
her master had been in sight It was a lucky thing
for us that no stranger happened to be in sight, as her
fright would have betrayed them. Even an assurance
from Greorge that the wires could do no harm, could
hardly satify her, until he appealed to me to confirm his
statement, that it was the operators at each end of the
wires that gave information.
The day before we reached Toledo one of the drivers
left, and the steersman employed our boy William, with
the consent of the captain. I told Greorge to tell William
I wanted to see him at the expiration of the time set for
him to drive. He came into the cabin, while the other
passengers were on deck, and told me all the hands seemed
very clever, and the steersman told him he would find a
good place for him to work in Toledo, and that he would
see that he had good wages. He asked him various ques-
tions, that led him to disclose his starting point, Yicksburg,
Mississippi. As he was so very friendly he answered all
his queries, even to his master's name. This I had charged
him not to give. As George and the other colored man
saw the steersman and another man employed on the boat
so very intimate, and careful to keep William with them,
they began to fear for their own safety. There came up
a sudden shower during William's time to drive, and he
got thorougly drenched ; and as he had no change of gar-
ments, the steersman and the other boys of the boat fur-
nished him out of their own wardrobe. It had now become
difficult for me to secure an interview with William, on ac-
count of his close friends, and I became as fearful of the tel-
'^.graph wires as was Mary, over whom we had a little sport
ARRIVAL IN TOLEDO. 119
But William began to fear all was not right, and re*
gretted having told this man of his condition, and made
an errand on deck, as he saw me sitting alone. He told
me all he had said to the steersman. I told him to appear
very careless, and say nothing, but to appear as if he was
going with the steersman, as he had suggested. As we
should be in Toledo in three hours, I would go into the
city, and the women and George would follow me to a
place of safety Then I would return for my shawl, that
I should leave on the boat. By that time, the passengers
would all have left, and he and the other young man must
remain about the boat. Then I would watch the oppor-
tunity, and when I went out, I should turn short comers,
but give them time to keep me in sight. Accordiuly, I
returned for my shawl, but made no haste to leave until
those close friends entered a saloon ; then was our time ; I
gave them the wink and left for a place of safety.
After I had put one and two in a place, my next work
was to solicit money to pay our fare to Canada, on a boat
that was to leave at 9 A. M. the next day. Here were
six &res to pay to Detroit, as Sarah had sufficient to pay
her own. The friends in Cincinnati had paid their fare to
Toledo. It was now nearly night, and I had but little
time; but I succeeded by nine o'clock the next morning,
leaving a colored man to conduct them to the boat; with
hardly five minutes to spare I reached the boat, with my
living freight.
Once out in the lake we felt quite secure. Yet there
was a possibility of a telegram being sent to William's
master, and danger of being overtaken by officers in De-
troit. Knowing of their anxiety to see Canada, I waited
until we were near enough to see carriages and persons on
the roail on the other side. When I said to Greorge's wife
" There w Canada." ** It ain't, is it ?" ** It is, certainly;
It is where no slave-owucr can claim his slave." She ran
to her husband to tell the good news. But neither he nor
120 A woman's i.ipb-work.
the balance of them believed her, and all came running to
me: ''That am't Canada, is it?" Being aasuied that the
land of freedom was in full view, with tears of joy they
gazed upon their ** House of Refuge," and within forty
minutes we were there. And to see them leap for joy was
rich pay for all my care in their behalf. Greorge and Jake
had both armed themselves with deadly weapons, in case
of an attempt to capture them, resolving on liberty or
death. I left each with fifty cents and returned to my
own sweet home.
I found the large building unfinished. As the first
buildings were temporary, they were unsuitable for stu-
dents to occupy another Winter, which would be the elev-
enth Winter our school had been in successful operation.
Brother Patchin, our principal, was called to another field
as pastor and teacher, and would go if the new building
was not ready for use by the follo^ving academic year.
While these probabilities were under consideration, brother
J. F. DoJbcare was taken from us, after a short illness.
As he was an important trustee, and an active Christian
worker, his loss was severely felt. We had a few months
previously met with a similar loss in the death of another
trustee, our valued friend and brother, Elijah Brownell, a
minister of the Society of Friends. Surely dark clouds
again overhung our fiivorite institution, in which many
of our students were taught in the school of Christ, before
they came to us, and many out of the hundreds who
had enjoyed the privileges of our school, we had good
reasons for believing, yielded their young hearts to the
loving Savior's invitation while with us. With the undy-
ing interests of the youth so near my heart, it was a trial
to have our school suspended a year ; but what could I
do? I must keep up the ten per cent interest on three
hundred dollars of my indebtedness, and could not con-
tract five hundred dollars more to finish the institution
building erected on the acre of ground I had given for
BAISIN INSTITUTE SUSPENDED. 121
that object It was inclosed, and a portion of tbe floors
laid, and doors and windows cased. This had cost over
one thousand dollars for a building thirty hj fifty-six feet.
As the farm was still carried on by my married chil-
dren, I concluded to return to Cincinnati and engage in
nursing the sick during the cold season, as the cough to
which I was subject was returning. All things considered,
the conclumon was reached to suspend Baisin Institute one
year at least. An Oberlin scholarship was presented me
for my daughter Laura Jane, who decided to take a gen-
tleman's collegiate course. Not only my financial pressure
seemed to direct toward that more southern field, but the
cause of those who were thirsting for liberty, and were al-
most daily leaving boats or crossing the river, was also a
strong incentive to occupy a post near the Southern end
of the road whose Northern terminus was in Queen Yio-
toria's dominions.
Many of my friends thought me presuming to venture
so near those who had threatened my life repeatedly, and
in the hand-bills of the Tennesseans (report said) there
was offered $3,000 reward for my head. Thomas K.
Chester stated in a letter that he had sent them to a
number of the Southern States, to let them know what
sort of sisters they had in the North. But J. F. Dolbcare,
on the night before his death, called me to his bedside,
and, taking my hand in his, said, " Sister Haviland, you
have passed through close and trying places in your work,
and your anti-slavery mission is not yet finished. Your
trials are not over. Oreater dangers are for you to pass
through — ^I see it. O, may the Lord prepare you for the
work he has for you to accomplish t He has sustained you
thus fiir. He will grant you his protecting arm. I know
it." I have often had occasion to remember the words I
listened to in that solemn hour, during thirty years that
have unce passed.
A slave-owner from New Orleans, with his wife, three
11
122 A woman's life-work.
children, and their nurse, Maria, were bound for Cincin*
nati. When at Louisville, he was told if he was going
to spend the Summer in Cincinnati he'd be sure to lose
his servant-girl, ''as that city is cursed' with free negroes
and abolitionists." At this unpleasant information, Cham-
plin and his wife concluded to make their temporary home
in Covington, instead of Cincinnati, to the great disap-
pointment of Maria, as she and her husband had been over
two years in saving all their little silver pieces, until the
amount was one hundred dollars, which was to be used in
taking her to Canada.
As this "Northern trip" had been calculated two or
three years before, and as they went to no place without
their faithful nurse, the slave couple also made their plans.
Her husband told her, as she would have a good opportu-
nity to secure her freedom, he would manage to secretei
himself on some through boat, and meet her in Canada ;
and he could go with less inon^y than she could, and in-
sisted upon her taking all they had saved. But after
Maria found they were going to hire rooms and board in
a hotel in Covington, sjie went to the trunk that contained
her clothes and the children's, and to her great disap-
pointment her hundred dollars, that she had so securely
tied in a little rag and rolled in her garments, was taken
out by her mistress, who never pretended to go to her
trunk for any thing, having no care whatever of her chil-
dren's wardrobe. But she must hide her feelings by putting
on a cheerful face, though she felt as though all her hopes
of freedom, of which she had so fondly dreamed, were
blasted forever.
Bhe found her task, as usual, was to keep the wardrobe
of her mistress and the children in order, and care for the
children day and night. A few days elapsed, and she
asked her mistress if she would please give her money to
purchase herself a pair of shoes, as she heard they were
cheaper here than at home. She said she would either get
AID OFFERED MARIA. *123
lier shoes or give her the money in a few days ; but neither
shoes nor money came. Two and three weeks passed, and
Maria ventured to repeat her request; but the reply was,
" Your shoes are good enough for a while yet,'*
While her master and mistress were over the river, she
frequently took the children to the river, to amuse them in
looking at boats and in picking up pebbles on the bank,
when her longing look was noticed by a white man, who
ventured to ask her if she would like to go across the
river. She told him, if she did, she had no money to give
to any one who would take her. After learning that her
master's residence was in New Orleans, he told her, if she
would never let any one know that he had ever said or
done any thing about helping her, let what would happen,
he would take her over without any thing, in the night,
whenever she could get away; but if it was ever known
there it would ruin him. She promised ; and as no one
was near, and the three children playing at a little dis-
tance, he pointed her to a large root on the bank, under
wliich she. could hide, and there wait until she heard a low
whistle near the root, when she could come out and step
into a skiff without saying a word, and he would muffle
the oars so as not to be heard, and take her to a colored
famOy he knew over the river, where she would be safe
until they would send her on to Canada.
" But how can I go on, when I 's got no money?"
''They know of a way to send such people as you
without money. You llj get with those over there who
will see you safe ; never lear."
" I never can tell you," she said, in relating her stoty,
** how strange I felt about sich good news as this, and
wondered if it could be true. I jmf trimbled like a popple
leaf all the evenin'. Master and missus was over in the
city to a lecture on Fernology, and didn't get back till
tw«hp« o'clock. I kep' the chillen awake later 'n commor
■0 Ihflj'd sleep sounder. Then I tied my clothes up i'
124. A woman's life-work.
tight bundle, an' had my shoes an' hat whar I 'd lay han's
on 'em, an' put out the light. I was snorin', when missus
looked in an' said, * All's asleep — all right;' an' I waited
till the clock struck one, an' all still. I crep' soHy out on
the street, and down to the root, an' waited for a whistle.
The clock struck two. O, how long I Will that man
come? Chillen may cry, an' missus fin' me gone. Had I
better wait till it's three o'clock? May be he can't come.
He said, if any thing happen he could n't come to-night,
I mus' go back, an' try another night An' 'bout as I be-
gan to think I better go back come the whistle. I stepped
in, an' we went over ; but the clock struck three before we
got half across, an' he was mighty feaFd he could n't get
back afore daybreak."
News reached us during the day that a woman crossed
the river early, and was so near it as to be dangerous for
a hiding-place ; and it fell to my lot to see her in a safe
place as soon as the darkness of night would shield us from
being detected by Champlin and his aids, who were already
seen at street corners. I took a black Quaker bonnet and
a drab shawl and a plain dress-skirt in a market-basket,
with which to disguise our fugitive.
I found her in a dark room, where I fixed her up for
a walk ; and she told me of her loss of the hundred dol-
lars, but I told her all would be well without it I in-
structed her to take my arm as we went, and take good
care to limp all the way, for we should pass plenty of
Kentuckians. Thickly veiled, we walked half a mile,
turning short comers to elude watchers, if any, from our
starting-point As we went up Central Avenue to Long-
worth, we passed through a crowd, one of whom said:
" I 'm going to line my pockets to-night. Thar 's five
hundred dollars reward out"
Said another, in a low tone, ** When did she cross?"
** Last night some time, they say."
My Quaker sister, limping at my side, was trembling, I
HID IN A POOR PLACB. 125
sensibly felt, as she hung upon my arm, as we Ibteued to
these remarks from her pursuers. I took her to a very
intelligent colored family on Longworth Street, who were
well known to us as true friends.
Although I had passed her pursuers without fear, yet
when Levi Coffin informed me that Buffin, the greatest
slave-hunter in the city, had just moved next door to
Burgess, where I left Maria, my fears were almost equal
to Maria's. ''Laura, thou hast left thy fugitive with a
good family, but in a poor place," said our venerable
friend. ''But wait until to-morrow evening, when thou
hadst better give her another move, as I know they will
use all possible care. The following evening Levi and
friend Hughes were to be on Central Avenue near Long-
worth Street, and as I came out with my Quaker woman,
they were to walk half a block ahead and turn on Ninth
Street to his house, and if sister Catherine's sign appeared
on the balcony of the second story, we were to ascend the
outside flight of steps, and take her up to the attic in the
fourth story.
Champlin had doubled the reward, and was raving
with rage over the loss of their nurse. He said he would
have her if he had to " set one foot in hell after her,"
cursing and swearing in a perfect foam ; and said a thou-
sand dollars should be doubled but what he would have
her. As the streets were too well lighted, to give her the
appearance of a white person through the veil, I called
for a saucer of flour, wiUi which I thoroughly powdered
her face. Before her veil was adjusted she happened to
look up and saw herself in the large mirror before her,
and burst into a laugh over her white face and Quaker
bonnet. I gave her a shake as I placed my hands over
her shoulders: "Don't laugh loud, for your liberty's sake.
Bemember the next door neighbor would get his thousand
dollars reward from Champlin, if he could know you are
here.'' '^ I won't look at that glass ag'in, I looks so qur
126 A woman's life-work.
I took her on the front walk, and following our previouis
plans, at the invitation of the white cloth on the balus-
trade, we soon found ourselves in the attic. She remained
here two weeks, not daring to move in any direction, as
the wealthy New Orleans planter's biped bloodhounds were
seen and heard from in almost every direction through
the city.
As there was in this case an unusual excitement, the
editor of the Cincinnati Commercial inserted a little note
in his paper, of the escape of the New Orleans nurse irom
her owners, who were boarding at White Hall Hotel in
Covington ; and that the mistress had taken one hundred
dollars from the nurse previous to their arrival at their
destination. The day following this notice Champlin came
to the Commercial office and demanded the authority the
editor had for charging his wife with stealing from their
servant. For whether it was he or any one else, it would
prove a dear job to vilify his wife like this, for he 'd have
their life or $3,000 ; and swore nothing short would settle
it. He told the editor he would give him till ten o'clock
the next morning, when he should come prepared for the
settlement (referring to his pistols, which he knew how to
use). At once Levi Coffin received a call from the editor
for advice, as he was his informant. During this inter-
view, Catherine came into our room, 8a3ring, '* Laura, they
are in a tangle with that New Orleans slave-holder, and
they want thee to help straighten it." Going in, I was in-
troduced to the editor, and main proprietor of the Com-
merdalj and they related the difficulty.
''Now," said Levi, ''this young man has invested in
this firm all he is worth, and Champlin will probably ruin
his business if he fails to give his authority for stating
Maria's loss of her hundred dollars ; and as I gave him
these facts, in case he gives my name as authority, he will
then come upon me, and make trouble, as Champlin seemed
"determined upon vengeance."
FOLLOWED BY SIJLVE-HUNTER8. 127
After a little reflection over these statements and threats
I told them I did not see but I came next, as I told Levi
these facts, ^vhich I took from Maria and the family where
she was first secreted. And as I had no property in Ohio,
and the little I owned iu Michigan I had arranged to
keep from slave-holders, I would stand in the gap and
our young friend might refer to me as authority, if com-
pelled to give it, rather than lose his life, or property even.
Said Levi, '' Thb is liable to terminate in a serioys aflair.
It would lay thee liable to imprisonment if he is so dis-
posed, and thy children in Michigan would fe^ very sad
over such an event."
I replied that I did not fear of remaining long in
prison, neither did I beUeve he was going to be permitted
to put me there, but at all events I was fully prepared to
allow my name to be given. With this conclusion our
young friend left us, saying that if he could manage that
exasperated man without naming me, he would do so.
We were all anxiously waiting to see the result of the
fearful meeting at the hour of ten the following day.
Champlin was there at the hour, with the stem query,
''Are you ready, sir, to give me your authority, or abide
the consequences?"
"I am, sir. The colored family where she first stopped
informed us."
**Do you take a nigger's testimony?"
"Certainly I do. They are respectable and honest,
though poor."
After pouring forth a volley of oaths, and saying he
wouldn't stoop so low as to notice what a nigger would
say, for they were all a pack of liars, he left the office, to
the great relief both of the editor and ourselves. Very
soon he came to us with the pleasing report, how those
pistols, BO fuU of powder, flash^ in the pan.
But the slave-hunters were still so numerous, it was
thought best to dress her up for another walk, and I took
128 A woman's life-work.
her to a iamily near Fourteenth Street, and wrote a letter
in Maria's name to her master, dated it ahead, and from
Windsor, Canada West, and sent it inclosed in a letter to
a friend at that place, with directions to mail it to the
roaster at the date I had given. Maria informed her mas-
ter Champlin that Canada was not the cold barren country
he had always told her it was, for they raised great fields
of corn, and potatoes, peas and beans, and everything she
saw in Kentucky ; and that she had found the best of
friends ever since she left home, and signed her name.
In less than two weeks Kitty Dorun's niece *came in
great haste to inform us that ''Champlin had got poor
Maria, and Aunt Kitty is nearly crying her eyes out over
the sad news that a colored man brought over last night."
•* That is all a mistake."
'*0h, no, it's no mistake, for that colored man worked
near White Hall yesterday, and he said the report was
just flying."
I hushed her loud words, and whispered, '^I can take
you to Maria in ten minutes, I know just where she is/'
"Are you sure, and may I go tell Aunt Kitty?"
"Go and whisper it, for there are but few friends who
know she is still in the city, because of the close search
made for her, that is still kept up."
The next day she came to us with another story,
"That he didn't get Maria, but got a letter from her in
Canada. And that was the current report."
I told her, "I understood that too, and would tell her
all within a few weeks."
The result of this letter was a withdrawal of all the
hired hunters within twenty-four hours, and during three
days' quiet two young men came from a few miles distant
across the river, who got the privilege of a holiday, and
of spending it nearly ten miles fiirther from the river than
was their home. As they left the night before, they
would have until the next morning before being missed.
BBUTISH THBEATS. 129
•
Ab Cazj (one of our vigilance committee) came before sun-
rise to inform ujs of the new arrival, Catharine Coffin came
to my bed-room and gave me a call : ''Come, Laura, here
are more runawajs; Cazy is here and they want thee."
In ksB than five minutes there were four of us to decide
on the plan of securing the newcomers and the one on our
hands. ''What shall we do? Our funds are out, we
haven't a dime in our treasury," said Cazy.
"We must get enough to take these two young men
and Maria out as &r as the Stubbs settlement to-night,"
I replied ; ''for you see all is quiet now over Maria, and by
to-morrow the city will fill up again with slave-hunters."
"That is what I told Cazy before thou came in; but
he says he has a job on his hands he can not leave,"
said Levi.
"Where is Hughes?"
"I don't believe I could get him to leave his work to
see to it ; but may be he 11 go for you," said Cazy.
"I'll try." And throwing on my shawl and bonnet,
called on Hughes, and told him he must go and take Maria
and two young men who had just arrived this morning.
"But what can we do without money?"
"I'll get it to-day. What amount is wanting?"
" It will take eight dollars to hire a close carriage and
team to go thirty miles to-night, and I must be back to
my work by eight o'clock to-morrow morning."
"Ill have that ready before night."
"Then I'll call at Uncle Levis's at noon, and see
whether you are sure of success in getting the money;
then I will call at the livery on my return to my work
and engage the carriage and team, to be ready by seven
and a half o'clock this evening."
When he called at noon I had four dollars in money
and a traveling suit for Maria, and knew just where I
could get the balance. Now for the plan of starting. I
told him he must manage the two men and I would mp'
130 A woman's LI F£- work.
age for Maria. ''But there are two toll-gates that are
closely watched for colored people, and I want you to go
with us past those gates, as two white persons in front
would pass the load; not seeing any colored people, they
would make no inquiries. As Catherine's health was poor,
and cholera was raging in the city, she was not willing I
should remain away over night, and Levi secured WUliam
Beckley to follow us a little distance behind until we had
passed those gates, when I was to return with him. The
carriage, with our company, was to be driven up Central
Avenue as &r as the orphan asylum, and halt for Maria
and myself; and as he passed the street she was on^
Hughes was to take out his white pocket handkerchief and
wipe his &ce, while William FuUer, at whose house Maria
was secreted, was to walk on the street at the time ap-
pointed to watch for the signal; when discovered,- as he
turned toward the house, we were to step out on the
street, and walk the half block where our carriage was in
waiting."
But in this we found it necessary to adopt my old rule
of being, carelessly careful, as there were Kentuckians in
their rented houses each side of William Fuller's, and they
were overheard to say three days before, that they believed
they had '' niggers hid at Fuller^s, for the blinds in the second
story had n't been opened in two weeks." The weather being
warm, and the rising of the full moon, and their next door
neighbors sitting on their front porches, all combined to
bring us into fiill view. As we were watching for the mo-
ment to start Maria took up her bundle of clothes ; but I
told her the least appearance, aside fi^m common callers,
would create suspicion, and we must send them after her;
<' But they 's all I got, an' I will never see 'em ag'in," said
Maria, sorrowfully.
" But your liberty is of more value than a cart load
of clothes."
'' Oh, yes, I knows it; but I can't even change," -
Maria's escape. 131
** Hand them to me," and thej were opened and tightly
lolled into the shape of a six months' babj in a trice ; and,
as I rolled it in a shawl, I said, ''I'll carry the baby my-
self." The watchful wife says, ''William is turning back,
and I will walk to the corner with you." As we reached the
gate, the neighbors in full view, sister Fuller's little girl
called, "Mamma, I want to see the baby; I didn't know
that woman had a baby." The frightened mother tried to
hush her in a smothered voice, that I feared would betray
her excitement "Let her go with us, mother," said L
"But auntie hasn't time now to let little sis see the baby;
wait till next time we call, because we are late, and our
folks will be waiting for us." And as we leisurely walked
along, sister Fuller invited us to come another time to
make a longer call.
After turning the comer, our sister and little girl left
us, and we quickened our pace to the carriage we saw in
waiting. Friend Hughes stood by the hitching-post, but
looked wild with excitement when he saw me turn to the
carriage, as he knew there was no baby aboard ; and as he
had hitched in a darker place than near the entrance, he
did not recognise us. But as I gave my baby a toss in
the carriage, saying, "This is part of our company; take
care of my baby," he recognized my voice. "O, yes;
this is one of your tricks." Soon we were seated, and on
our way. We passed the two fearful gates with a sharp
look by each keeper, and half a mUe beyond I proposed to
return; but friend Hughes said there was a short piece of
woods ahead to pass through, then the coast would be clear
the balance of the way, and he would rather I would go
through the woods with them. Just before entering the
grove we heard the loud talking, singing, and laughing of
ten or a dozen men we were going to meet.
As this boisterous company appeared before us, Hughes
turned to the two men behind us, and said, "Are your
pistols ready?"
132 A woman's life-work.
'^Yes, sah;" and each took from his own pocket a
sixHshooter.
'* Boys, if those men attempt to take our horses bj the
bits, and I say, Fire! will you do it?"
" Yes, sah."
Said I, " Hughes, be careful, be careful. Your excite-
ment will betray us if you are not very careful"
" We do n't know what rabble we are goiug to meet,
and I propose to be ready for 'em."
'* There is nothing known of this company, and I know
we are safe."
*' I do n't know it; and if they make the first move to
stop us, be ready, boys."
" All ready."
There were two six-shooters behind me, and one in the
hand of Hughes, that I feared much more than all the
slave-holders in Kentucky.
But we were soon relieved by the remark of one, as we
were passing, ''It was well we stopped that bent from
falling, or 't would have killed 8mith as dead as a ham-
mer." We found by this that they had been to the raising
of a building, and a number of them were more than
half drunk.
After going a mile or two farther, and our excitement
was over, I took leave of our company, with a charge to
keep quiet and all would be well, and returned to Levi
Cofiin's by twelve o'clock. The following morning we re-
ceived a good report from our conductor, Hughes, of the
safe delivery of this valuable freight in the Quaker set-
tlement depot, where they were forwarded to Canada.
CLABA IN I>A2iG£B. 133
Chapter VI.
FUGITIVE SLAVES ASSISTED,
The exciting intelligence reached us that Clara and her
three little ones were about to be captured by slave-holders
in the city, on Pearl Street. I called on her at once, and
found the house was surrounded the night before by stran-
gers, who were followed to a hotel, and on the record the
name of her master's son was found. Poor woman I She
had passed through great suffering in making her escape
with her two children ; a third was bom in Cincinnati —
yet it too must share the anticipated fate of its mother.
8he had always been a house-servant, but found the death
of her master was about to make great changes, he being
deeply in debt By the aid of a chambermaid she was
secreted on a boat, and kept the two children drugged with
opiates until she feared they would never come to life.
But after. her arrival, under the care of a skillful physi-
cian, they survived. She had found good friends among
her own people and Church two years. I found her weep-
ing, with the two youngest in her arms, the oldest sitting
on a stool at her feet With fast-falling tears she kissed
her babes. ''O ma's precious darlings, how can I spare
you !" I told her if her master did not come for her until
It was dark enough to conceal her, arrangements were made
to come for her with a close carriage, to take them out of
the city to a place of safety.
'' I reckon you can 't save us," she sobbed.
I told her we would pray the Lord, who knew all her
deep sorrow, to open the way for us.
*' Yes, I cried mightily to him to help me out o' that
134 A woman's life-wokk,
dark land back yonder, and it 'peared like he did bring
mc out; but if I had stuck closer to him- 1 reckon he'd
kep' nie from this hard trial;" and fresh tears freely flowed.
With rcy hands on her shoulders, my tears mingled with
hers. In broken sentences, she referred to the separation
of her husband when he was sold and taken dovm the river.
I left her, with a heavy heart, yet strong hope that her
young master (as she called him) would be defeated.
At twilight, I called to assist in getting them ready to
jump into the carriage that our friend William Fuller
would drive to the door within fifteen minutes ; and being
ready, we were in the carriage turning the first corner
within a minute, and left them in charge of an under-
ground railway agent, who took them on his train as soon
as their clothing and pocket-money were forwarded to them,
to the great relief of many anxious hearts.
A little past nine o'clock, her master and his posse
surrounded the house, and lay in wait until the stillness
of the midnight hour was thought most fiivorable to
]X)unce upon their prey and hurry them to the river,
where they had a boat in waiting for them. Then their
force was increased, and an entrance demanded. The
owner of the house (a colored man) refused admittance
without legal authority, although threats of breaking down
the door or windows were made; but they were resisted
with returning threats of shooting the first man that dared
to enter without proper authority. As they were expecting
an attack, the women had left their home for the night.
The watch waa kept around the house until morning ap-
proached, when the marshal, with his official papers, was
brought to claim Clara and three children. But to their
great disappointment, in searching the house, no Clara or
children were there. In great rage her master left, swear-
ing vengeance upon him wlio had kept them in suspense
all night when he had spirited them away, for he knew he
ad harbored his property in his house ; but all the reply
JACK RECAPTURED. 135
X
v
he received was, "Prove it, if you wish." They got no
track of them until they heard from them in Canada.
A fugitive by the name of Jack secreted himself on a
large steamer from the lower Mississippi, and left it on
landing in Cincinnati. Being so far from his old home,
he hired himself as a barber, in which business he was
very successful about two years, when his master learned
of his whereabouts. He made the acquaintance of a free
colored man by the name of Sobert Eussel, who was an
idle, loafish mulatto, sometimes working at little jobs in
Cincinnati, and also in Covington. In the latter place he
fell in with the slave-holder, who was watching for an op-
portunity to secure the aid of some one who would induce^'^.
Jack to come to the river, where he would hurry him onto
the ferry, and get him on the Kentucky side, when he could
easily return him to the far South. As he found Robert
Bussel a man of no principle, he ga\0 him ten dollars if
he would decoy Jack to the wharf of Walnut Street land-
ing about noon, when men were generally at diuner. He
succeeded, when the master with his Kentucky friends
slipped haud-cu& on poor Jack, and took him on the ferry
for a thief. The more Jack protested, denying the charge,
the louder they cried thief I thief 1 Some of his colored
friends consulted their favorite lawyer, John JoUifie, about
arresting Jack's master for kidnapping, as he had taken
him illegally, but they were told they could do nothing
with him in Kentucky. They were compelled to leave
their friend to his iate.
But the Judas who betrayed Jack ought to be brought
to justice; but how could they do it? As I was at that
thne teaching a school of colored girls, in the basement of
Zion Baptist Church, a number of colored men came to
consult with me. I told them as Robert Russel was a ren-
egade he was as liable to serve one side of the river as the
other, and would as readily bring a slave to the Ohio side
for ten dollars, as to decoy him back into the hands of his
^ 136 A woman's life-work.
master for that money. They said Robert did not dare
come into Cincinnati, fearing that justice would be dealt
out in tar and feathers by the colored people. They
learned soon after he came to the city that he ran away
from Bipley to avoid being arrested for stealing. I advised
them not to take the law of tar and feathers, as they had
indicated, in their own hands; but to spoil the petting he
was getting from the slave-holders across the river, by
warning them against Robert Russel, for he would as read-
ily play the rogue one side as the other; and this they
could do in a little printed card that might be dropped on
the sidewalk through a few streets in Ck)vington, and they
would run him out of their town in a hurry. This idea
pleased them, and they wished mo to draft the card, and
they would print and circulate it. I told them I would
take my noon recess to prepare it, and at 4 o'clock my
school would be out, and they might come for it. I gave
it as follows:
Slave-Holders of Kentucky I
BEWARE OF THE ROGUE, ROBERT RUSSEL!
Who absconded from Ripley, Ohio, to evade the strong arm of
the law he richly deserved for misdemeanors in that town.
This man is a light mulatto, and betrayed one of his race for
ten dollars, in Cmcinnati, bringing him into life-long trouble.
He will as readily take ten dolUirs from any of your slaves to
bring them to Cincinnati, and again take ten dollai-s to return
them to you, as ho bos no higher purpose to ser\'e than
paltry self. A I^ver or Right.
This was printed on a placard of ten by twelve inelies*
They procured two hundred for distribution, but found it
more difficult to get a distributer than they anticipated.
I told one of them to go to Levi Coffin's and inform hha
and his wife where I was going after my school was dis-
missed, and that I would distribute them through CWing-»
ton, but to let no one else know of it, except their com-
mittee who secured the printing, as it would produce
increased excitement. I went a mile from the river before
BOB RUS8EL RUN OUT OF COVINGTON. 137
eommenciog my work, and left one or two in every yard,
when no eye seemed directed toward me. I dropped them
by the street side until I reached the ferry that returned
me to my anxious friends in Cincinnati, just as the sun
dropped behind the Western hills.
The following day report gave an account of the even-
ing*8 excitement in Covington. A company of slave-hold-
ers met to consult over this placard, and the conclusion
was reached to give Bob Russel until nine o'clock the fol-
lowing morning to leave the State or take the consequences.
Two slaves had left them within a couple of months, and
they charged him with taking them over the river. Somb
of the more excitable were for hauling him out of bed at
the close of their meeting (ten o'clock), and dealing sum-
mary vengeance for their recent losses, but as he pledged
himself to leave their State . the next morning never to
return, they left him to his own uncomfortable reflections.
A party consisting of four, from New Orleans, came
to Cincinnati to spend the Summer, and made their home
at a hotel. It was soon ascertained by the colored people
that tlieir little nurse girl of about nine years of age, was
a slave, and as the master and mistress had brought her
there, she was by the laws of Ohio free. They took the
opportunity to coax her away and place her among their
white friends, who they knew would take good care of
her. Very soon there was great inquiry for Lavina.
They said she was just a little pet they brought with them
to play with and mind the baby, and they knew she was
stolen from them against her will ; but that if they could
get sight at her, she would run to them, unless she
was forcibly held back by some mean person. Diligent
search was made among the colored people whom they
suspected, but no clew could be found of her whereabouts.
They were then advised to visit some prominent abolition-
ists, where they were satisfied she had been taken. Bo
close to Elizabeth Coleman's were they watching, that she
12
138 A woman's life-work.
felt unsafe, fearing they might come in and find her alone
with her little pet fugitive, bo she took her to Samuel Bej-
nold's by night
The search continued. Samuel met the master on the
street in front of his house, but had left orders to dress
Lavina in his little boy's suit ; and holding the master in
conversation awhile, he said he would call for Jim, to bring
them a glass and pitcher of water, having already tcld hif
wife to give Jim a few necessary instructions how to ap-
pear very smart and active. As she came out to give
Sem drink, Samuel gave the master and his two friends a
few lessons in Ohio law, informing him that all slaves
brought into the State by their owners were free. The mas-
ter contended that it would be very cruel to keep Lavina
from her mother (who belonged to him), and he knew if
he could be allowed to see her it would be sufficient to
convince them of her attachment to him, and promised to
leave the child to her own choice. ** But," said Samuel,
" Lavina is on our underground railroad." This was as new
to the New Orleans slave-holder as were the Ohio laws he
had been explaining. After discussing the right and
wrong of his claim, Samuel called to his wife to send Jim
with a pitcher of water ; and out came the little fellow.
'* Pour a glass of water for this gentleman, Jim ;" and their
heated discussion continued. The master took the glass
from Jim, who looked him full in the fece, with one hand
in his pocket, while Samuel was serving the other two gen-
tlemen with a glass of water. The women in the .house
were filled with fear, as they deemed Samuel rather im-
prudent. But Jim returned with pitcher and glass, and
the master and his friends went back to the hotel none the
wiser, either of Lavina's whereabouts or of the operation of
this new kind of railroad. Lavina was well cared for, and
her master and mistress returned to New Orleans with
a new experience, minus a nurse ^1.
Another ftigitive, by the name of Zack, came across
zace's hidino-place. 139
the river from Virginia into Ohio. He had lain in the
woods by day, and traveled by the North Star at night,
when it was clear, but in rainy or cloudy weather he found
be was as liable to go South as North. There had been
much rain to impede his progress, and he suffered much
from hunger. He had advanced only a few miles from the
river, when he found a &mily of true friends, who re-
plenished his clothing, and was preparing food for his jour-
ney, when his master, with eight other men, found out
where he was, and came with officers to search the house
and take their prey. They came in the night and de-
manded entrance. ''Wife, what shall we do? There are
men under every window."
''Let them search the two lower rooms first, and while
you go with them you teU Zack to slip into my room while
you are with them, and 111 see to him.''
" But I tell you he can't be got out of this house with-
out being caught."
" 60 on ; I know that." And he left her and gave the
frightened man his orders. But before he reached her room
she rolled up the feather-bed and drew the straw mattress to
the front side of the bedstead, and told Zack to jump in.
Her order obeyed, she threw back the feather-bed, and
before the master and officer entered her room she was
occupying the front side of the bed. The clothes-press,
wardrobe, and under the bed were all closely scrutinized.
The husband, pale with excitement, was expecting, in
every place they searched, that poor Zack would be found.
But they all left satisfied that he was not in that house,
though BO very sure they had found the right place. The
noble woman said he shook with fear, so as to make the
bed tremble during the search, knowing but too well his
sad fate if he should again fall into the hands of his master.
Every necessary measure was taken to hasten his progress
to Canada.
In December, 1852, Calvin Fairbanks, who had served
140 A woman's life-work.
a term of three jears in the Kentucky penitentiary for aid*
ing slaves to escape, called at Levi Coffin's and informed
me of a letter he had received, giving information that an
interesting slave woman in Loubville, Kentucky, could
cross the river, if a friend would meet her at Jefferson-
ville, Indiana, and take her to a place of safety ; and he
proposed to be the conductor. I advised him, by all means,
not to go so near Kentucky, as he was so well known through
that State. He said he expected we would oppose him. I
advised him to consult with Dr. Brisbane, as liCvi was
absent. But he chose to keep the matter quiet, and went
on his dangerous expedition. I was called away to College
Hill as nurse, and in three weeks, when I returned to
Levi's, he called me into the store, 8a3ring, " We have a
letter for thee to read ; somebody is in trouble, and Samuel
Lewis, Dr. Brisbane and myself have been trying to find
out who it is, but can make out nothing by the letter.
The signature is of stars, that he says is the number of
letters in the name, but we can make nothing of it ;" and
he handed me the letter, dated from Louisville jail.
As soon as I counted the six stars in the first name, I
said, *'Levi, it is Calvin Fairbanks I Bead out the last
line of stars, and we '11 find Fairbanks."
At this point Dr. Brisbane entered the store.
''Doctor," said Levi, ''Laura has found our riddle;
she says it is Calvin Fairbanks."
Both were astonished, not knowing he was down the
river. I told them of his call in Levi's absence, and of
his errand.
"Poor man, how he will suffer, for they will soon find
him out, and they are so very bitter against him, I fear he
will die in their penitentiary, for they will have no mercy
on him," said the doctor.
" He sends us an appeal for help, but I see no way we
can render him assistance," responded Levi.
A few weeks later a colored man, who had been mis-
PBO-BLAVERY MURDERS. 141
taken for a slave, was released from that jail. He came
to us telliDg of the sufferiDg the prisoners endured, having
no bed but a pile of filthy straw in their cells ; and that
Calvin requested him to see his friends, and tell us he
must perish unless a quilt and flannel underclothing were
furnished him ; and he also needed a little pocket money.
No one dared to take these articles to him, for only two
weeks previously a man by the name of Conklin had
brought the wife and four children of an escaped slave
into Indiana, and was captured in the night. AH were
taken to the river, and the poor woman and her children
returned to their owner, without her meeting the husband
and &ther, who had sent for them. Conklin was bound
with ropes and thrown into the river, where he was found a
&w days after. Four weeks before Williams, from Massa-
chusetts, followed two little mulatto girls who were stolen
from their free-bom parents by a peddler, and found them
near Baltimore, Maryland. As soon as his errand was
made known a band of ruffians lynched him.
These two cases of murder, without the semblance of
law, had produced much excitement in the North, and
now the Fairbanks case was increasing the exasperation
of the South. But here was a sufiering brother in prison.
A few days of earnest prayer determined me to go to
Louisville jail with a trunk of bed clothes and under flan-
nels. I looked for strong opposition from my friends, but
to my surprise when I proposed the plan to my friends
Levi and Catherine Coffin, they favored my project. Cath-
erine did her full share in furnishing a trunk, a thick
comfortable and pillow ; others soon brought a change of
flannels; and as Levi met friends and made known my
project of going to Louisville, the mites were brought to
the amount of fourteen dollars for Calvin, and enough to
bear my expenses. Levi saw Captain Barker, who pos-
sessed an interest in the line of packets running to Ivouis-
ville, and he ofiered half fare, and promised to send fo^
142 A woman's LIF£-W0RK.
me in time for the Ben Franklini No. 2, to leave for Louis-
ville the next day at 2 P. M.
Dr. Brisbane, on returning from an absence of a few
days, told Levi not to allow so rash a move, and said that
I must not go to Louisville in this excitement, for it was
dangerous in the extreme; and he referred to Gonklin's
fate, that was just as likely to be mine. This so discour-
aged Levi, that he said, ''It may be we have been too
fast in giving thee words gf encouragement'' My reply
^was, '* I find no geographical lines drawn by our Savior in
visiting the sick and in prison.**
Here was a suffering brother, who had fallen among
thieves, and I felt it my duty to go to his relief. There
seemed also a clear answer to prayer that I should be pro-
tected ; and if time would allow me to call on Dr. Brisbane
before I left for the boat, I would do so, as I desired to
see him.
''If thou art going, I advise thee not to call on the
doctor, as I know how he feels about thy going, and all
thy reasons will not satisfy him in the least"
I told him if the doctor or any one else would go, I
should feel easy to give it up, but otherwise I could not
During this conversation Melancthon Henry came in,
as he said, "with his mite" of three silver dollars for
brother Fairbanks. He said, " You are going into the
lion's den, and my prayer is that you may be as wise as a
serpent and harmless as a dove. I know the venom of
the serpent is there in power, but Grod will give his chil-
dren the wisdom without the poison." Melancthon was a
son of Patrick Henry, who had emancipated him with his
slave mother. He was a member of the Wesleyan Meth-
odist Church, to which I was at that time attached.
Soon after Captain Barker sent for me, and told me to
refer Colonel Buckner to him in presenting my note of
introduction, as he was favorably acquainted with the col-
onel, and he should mention me as one of his friends.
VISIT TO LOUISVILLE. 143
Arrived at Louisyille about day-dawn, I took a hack,
and ordered the hackman to place the truck on the porch
of the front entrance of the jailor's residence. As the col-
onel's wife answered the door-bell, I inquired for Colonel
Buckner. She tstepped back to call him, when in an un-
dertone I heard, "Who is it?" "I don't know; she
came in the hack and is genteelly dressed, and I think
came from the boat"
He "genteelly" met me, took Captain Barker's letter
of introduction, and then introduced me to his wife and
daughter, and to his wife's sister from Boeton^ who was
there on a visit with her daughter, making quite a lively
social circle. My errand was immediately made known,
and the colonel excused himself for overhauling the trunk
to take its contents to Calvin at once, as it was in the line
of his duty as keeper of the prison to examine every thing
brought in for prisoners ; not that he expected to find any-
thing improper for Fairbanks to receive. I told him I
designed returning to Cincinnati on the same boat I came
on, and it was going out at 4 P. M.
" Why go so soon?" he asked.
I replied, " My errand here is accomplished, when I
see that these things are delivered to Calvin Fairbanks ;
and as I have a little poclcet change, sent by his friends in
Cincinnati, I would like to see Calvin, as I shall write his
mother after my return."
"I will see if the sheriff thinks it best There was
a great excitement in the city when Fairbanks was arrested
and brought here, and Shotwell, the injured man who lost
his servant Tamor and her child, h very much enn^ed,
and being a man of wealth and influence here, I dare not
take you in to see Fairbanks on my own responsibility;
bat I II see the sheriff, and if he says you can see him it
is all right."
With a little note from me he took the trunk of things
to Calvin, and brought back a receipt As ho handed i'
144 A woman's life-wobk,
to me he said, '*! suppose you will recognize his hand-
"writlng, so you'll know it's from him?"
I replied that I had seen a note of his writing, but
was not familiarly acquainted with it, but was perfectly
satisfied with the receipt
He said he had been to see the sheriff, but he was ab-
sent, and would not return for two or three days, '' and I
think you had better wait," he continued, "and see him,
as you can remain with us; it shall not cost you a cent"
I told him my friends in Cincinnati would be at the
wharf to meet me the following morning; and as I had
nothing further to accomplish, being satisfied that the
things and money had been received by Calvin Fairbanks,
I felt free to return." But he urged still harder.
"It will be too bad for you to return without seeing
him, as you are the only friend that has called to see him
since he has been here ; and I know he wants to see you,
for he asked if you were not coming in to see him, and I
told him I was waiting to see the sheriff; and I think you
had better wait till the boat makes another trip, as your
stay here is as free as air, and we would like you to stop
over; then you can see the sherifi, and I reckon he will
not object to your going in to see Fairbanks, and yet I
dare not take you in without his approval."
I at length consented. They were all very polite, and
I rested as sweetly that night as if in my own room at
Levi Coffin's, or in my own Michigan home. The next
day the colonel was very free to talk of the false ideas of
Northern people about slavery; spoke of Elizabeth Mar-
garet Chandler's work'on slavery, that I took from their
center table ; said his wife's Boston friends sent it her, but
" it was nothing but a pack of lies."
I told him that she lived and died neighbor to me,
and I esteemed her as a noble woman.
" But she never lived in the South, and had no right
'^ judge of their condition without the knowledge of it"
A 8ECBET AGENT. 146
I was iutixKluced to a young man who he said had been
Bufiering a few days' imprisonment under &lse charges, but
on the examination, had that day, was foimd not guilty.
As the family withdrew from the parlor, this young man
seemed very anxious to deliver a secret message from Fair-
banks to me ; he said he had made a confidant of him, and
told him to request me to see to forwarding Tamor's trunk
of valuable clothing to a place of safety. He then told me
the mark on the trunk, and the place in Louisville where
it was waiting to be forwarded. I said that I had told the
colonel I had no idea of Tamor^s whereabouts, as I had
supposed she was taken with Fairbanks until informed to
the contrary; and that I had no business here whatever,
aside from bringing a few articles for his present relief
After being absent awhile, he returned with a note pur-
porting to be from Calvin, inquiring whether I had made
the acquaintance of persons therein named. I told the
bearer I had not, and if he saw Calvin he could tell him
80. He urged me to send Fairbanks a note, as the colonel
or any one else should know nothing of it ; but I refused,
becoming satisfied that he was more of a dispatch-bearer
for the colonel than for Calvin Fairbanks. I learned after-
wards that this was true, and that he was released for the
purpose of getting hold of additional evidence with which
to convict him, and perhaps convict myself also.
In the evening a gentleman of their city made a call
on the family, and to him I was introduced. He spent an
hour or two in conversation with myself and the others.
The jailer. Colonel Buckner, told me just before I left that
their city papers — Louisville Courier and Louisville Comr
fnercial — inserted a notice to the effect that " Delia Web-
ster, from Cincinnati, is here, and is quartered for a few
days in the city." This little notice created much excite-
ment ; and as the gentleman alluded to knew Delia Web-
ster personally, the colonel brought him in to make my
acquaintance and report accordingly. As he passed ou'
13
146 A woman's ijfb-wobk.
of the parlor, he told the colonel he might rest assured
that lady was not Delia Webster, and tbej had noth-
iDg to fear from this Ciucinnati lady, And he should
set the editors right. All this excitement was carefully
kept from me, as they wished to keep me as long as they
possibly could, hoping to glean some additional evidence
against Fairbanks, although the jailer told me they had
8!iiBcient evidence to convict Fairbanks for a term of
twenty-five or thirty years at least, as this was the second
ofiense, and he had no doubt but that he had been guilty
of many others. The papers next day came out with a
correction, " that it was not Delia Webster, but Mrs.
Haviland, from Cincinnati ; and, as abolitionists generally
went in pairs, she had better keep a lookout, or she, too,
would find an apartment in Colonel Buckner's castle."
Delia Webster was arrested near the time of Calvin
Fairbanks's first arrest, and for the same ofiTense, and sen-
tenced to the same penitentiary, but in six weeks was
pardoned.
The colonel was disposed to spend much time in dis-
cussing the merits, .or rather demerits, of abolition princi-
ples, which seemed to be a new theme for this Methodist
class-leader and jailor. He said :
" I want to convince you that you abolitioners are all
wrong, for you go against colonization, and you can 't
deny it; and if there was ever a heaven-bom institution
it is colonization."
" Do you claim that God has conferred the prerogative
to a man or set of men to draw a line, and say to you or
me, ' You shall go the other side of that line, never to
return?'"
" 0 no, that is a difierent thing. We belong to a dif-
ferent race."
•* Whatever privilege you claim for yourself o1r I claim
for myself, I claim for every other human being in the
universe, of whatever nation or color. If the colored
BLAVERY DIBCrSSED. 147
people choose to go to Africa I have no word to say against
their removal ; it is their right and their privilege to go.
And if they wish to go to any other part of our world
they have the same right with me to go."
''O no, not to Canada; for you have no idea of the
trouble it makes us. We expend thousands of dollars in
preventing our slaves from going there."
'* That is the defect in your policy. It is the existence
of your system of slavery that makes you all this trouble."
'*As I told you of Miss Chandler, so it is with you,
because you never liVed in a slave State, and know noth-
ing of their contented and happy condition. They havo
no care ; if they are sick the doctor is sent for, and they
are as tenderly cared for as our own children, and their
doctor's bills are paid. I know if you would live here a
few months you 'd see these things very difierently. You
would see our slaves marching out to their work, siuging
their songs and hymns as merrily as if they 'd never had a
troubled thought in their heads. Here's my wife, bom
and raised in Massachusetts, and now she thinks as much of
our institution of slavery as any of us who are raised here."
** If your slaves are so happy and contented, why do
they make you so much trouble in their efforts to reach
Canada r
** O, there 's free niggers enough to be stirring up the
devil in their heads ; for their notions are not fit to mingle
with our servants. And there 's the good the colonization
of these free n^roes is doing. I know of one man that
jnanumitted two of his slaves on purpose to have them go
to Africa as missionaries ; and there is the de«gn of Prov-
idence in bringing those heathen negroes here to learn the
Gospel plan by Christ, to save the dark and benighted
heathen of their own country. We have reports from the
two missionaries that I told. you were set free for that
object, and their master sent them off to school a year or
more to fit them for their work."
148 A woman's life-work.
'* But why not give them all an opportunity of educa-
cation, to enable them to read the Bible and books and
papers. That would improve the race at home; and in-
stead of sending them off, as you say, they would be
preachers here among their people."
''I tell you that wouldn't amount to any thing, as
there are but few that can leam .any thing but work, and
that they are made for. Their thick skulls show that they
can 't learn books ; and if you knew as much about them
as I do you 'd see it too, but you are such an abolitioner
you won't see it."
I told him I had seen colored people in the North who
were well educated and intelligent.
'* O yeSy there are a few who can leam , but I speak
of the race. They are different from us, you know. Not
only their skin is black and hair curled and noses flat, but
they stink so."
'* But here is your house-servant, Mary, preparing your
meals, setting in order your parlor and private rooms, and
waiting on the persons of your wife and daughter — and her
hair is as short and skin as black and nose as flat as any
you'll find ; and yet this disagreeable smell only troubles you
in connection with the principle of freedom and liberty."
" You are such an abolitioner there's no doing any thing
with you," he rejoined, and left the room.
He soon returned, and said:
"There's another thing I want to talk with you about,
and that is amalgamation. If you carry out your princi-
ples, your children would intermarry with negi'oes; and
how would you feel to see your daughter marry a great
black buck nigger?"
"That is the least of my troubles in this lower world,"
said I. "But as far as amalgamation is concerned, you
have twenty cases of amalgamation in the South to one
in the North. I sny this fearless of contradiction; it
is a fruitful product of slavery. There are hundreds of
THE BIBLE AGAINST SLAVERY. 149
slaves held as property by their own fathers. You 11 find
it wherever slavery exists. You find it here in your own
city, Louisville."
Giving a shrug of his shoulders, he replied, ''I will
acknowledge this is a sorrowful fistct that can not be
denied."
This ended his talk on that subject.
After supper we were all enjoying a social chat before
a blazing grate in the dining-room, and I was sitting near
the kitchen door, that was ajar, where were their slaves in
hearing. In their presence I had avoided answering some
of his questions , but now a question was put within their
hearing, which seemed to demand a square reply, and
I gave it.
*'I would like to know, Mrs. Haviland, where you abo-
litioners get your principles of equal rights. I 'd like to
know where you find them."
" We find them between the lids of the Bible. God
created man in his own image — in his own likeness. From
a ringle pair sprang all the inhabitants of the whole earth.
God created of one blood all the nations that dwell upon the
whole earth ; and when the Savior left his abode with the
Father, to dwell a season upon our earthly ball, to suiTer
and die the ignominious death of the cross, he shed his
precious blood for the whole human family, irrrespective of
nation or color. We believe all are alike objects of re-
deeming love. We believe our Heavenly Father gave the
power of choice to beings he created for his own glory ;
and this power to choose or refuse good or ^vil is a truth
coexistent with man's creation. This, at least, is ray firm
conviction."
No reply was made, but, at his suggestion, we repaired
to the parlor, where other conversation was introduced, but ^
no reference made to Bible arguments.
During the time of waiting to see the sheriff the jail-
eafn wife frequently spent an hour or two in social co*
150 A woman's ijfb-work.
versation. 8he said they never bought or sold a slave but
at the earnest solicitation of the slave.
''Our black Mary was one of the most pitiable objects
you ever saw. She was treated shamefully, and was put
here in jail, where she lay three months, and was so sick
and thin there would n't any body buy her. I felt so sorry
for her I used to take her something she could eat, and I
had her clothes changed and washed, or I reckon she
would have died. She begged me to buy her, and I told
Mr. Buckner that if she was treated half decent I be-
lieved she would get well. So I bought her and paid only
four hundred dollars ; and now you see she looks hale and
hearty, and I wouldn't take double that for her. But
there is poor black Sally, just four weeks ago to day she
was sold to go down the river in a gang ; and I never saw
any poor thing so near crazy as she was. She was sold
away from her seven children. Ab I heard her screams I
threw my bonnet and shawl on and followed her to the river,
and she threw herself down on her face and poured out her
whole soul to God to relieve her great distress, and save
her poor children. Oh how she cried and prayed. I tell
you no heart, not made of stone, could witness that scene
and not melt. Many shed tears over poor Sally's prayer.
A man standing by went to the trader and bought her, and
went and toFd her that he lived only eight miles away, and
had bought her, and she should come and see her children
occasionally. She thanked him as he helped her to stand
up, for she seemed weak. But in just two weeks from
that day she died, and the doctors examined her, and said
she died of a broken heart. They said there was no dis-
ease about her, but that she seemed to sink from that day9
growing weaker and weaker until she died. That was just
two weeks ago to^lay."
Her eyes frequently filled with tears as she related this
sad incident, and yet she could cheerfully say, ''Oh, tibS,
Haviland, go with me into the kitchen to see my nigger
ADAMS's JACK. 151
baby." As we entered the kitchen there stood the mother
by her fat, laughing baby, bolstered up in his rude cradle
of rough boards. '* There, isn't that a fine boy? he's
worth one hundred dollars. I could get that to-day for
him, and he's only eight months old; isn't he bright?''
'* He is certainly a bright little fellow."
As I looked at the mother I saw the downcast look,
and noticed the sigh that escaped a heavy heart, as she lis-
tened to the claim and price set upon her little darling.
It 's mother, Mary, was ebony black, her child was a light
mulatto, which was in keeping with the story of abuse to
which she was compelled to submit, or else lay in jaiL
During the afternoon of Friday a Mr. Adams, from
South Carolina, came to recognize and take his slave Jack.
Said the colonel: '*He was decoyed by an abolitioner, and
now you can see what your principles lead to. There's
Jack in the yard" (pointing toward the man). *' His master
has just been in jail with me and talked with Jack, and I let
him out, and he 's going around town with him to see if he
can get his eye on the rogue that enticed him away. You
see he 's a great, stout, smart-looking fellow, agd the rascal
got sight at him, and saw him alone, and asked him if he
would n't like to be free, and be his own roaster. He said he
would. 'Then meet me at eleven o'clock by that big
tree near the road 3'onder, and 111 take you with me to
Canada, where you'll be a free man.' Jack met him at
the place appointed, aud they went on till daylight, then
hid till night, and traveled on. 'Now,' said this aboli-
tioner, 'if you will let me sell you in this little town
ahead. III be around here till near night, then I'll go on
to the next tavern (or I'll tell them so), but I'll stop in a
little wood this side, and wait for you till eleven or twelve
o'clock, and you can meet me, and I '11 give you half I get
for you, then we'll travel all night again, when we'll be
out of reach of their hunting for you. Then we can travel by
day-time, as you can call me master, and 111 call you r
152 A woman's life-work.
body-servant' Jack was now fairly in his hands, and did
as he directed. As he had divided the money with Jack
he had confidence in this mean fellow, and thought he
would take liim on to Canada. He met him according to
the phin, and, after traveling all night again, another
proposition was made to sell him again, and he would again
divide and give him half, which now amounted to a large
sum for Jack. But this was not the end of sales; for
he played the same game over and over, until they
reached this city, when Jack was caught and put in jail.
After he'd been here three days he told me all about it,
and I took the money and wrote to Mr. Adams to come
and get him. By the time that abolitioner got here he had
sold Jack seven times, and divided with him every time.
So, you see, that is just the fruit of your principles."
I patiently waited until he finished his story, with its
charges, when it was my time.
' ''Colonel Buckner, I do not acknowledge this to be
the work of an abolitionist. This was a selfish, unprin-
cipled man; he was making himself rich, and probably
was taking Jack down the river, and would have kept on
selling him, and dividing, until he would have sold him
for the last time, and then have taken from Jack all the
money he had given him from these clandestine sales. I
have no word of sanction to give to work like this; I
should say his place was here in jail instead of Jack. If
Jack had come to us hungry and naked, we should have
fed and clothed him; and if sick with fatigue and foot-
sore, we should have given him a ride toward Canada, if
he wished to go there ; but as for this man, I will not own
him as an abolitionist. I repudiate his work altogether."
**0h, yes, he told Jack he was an abolitioner."
*' Then he was a hypocrite. I want to suppose a case
for you to consider. Perhaps a fine appearing man comes
mto your city, attends your Methodist meetings, and calls
iself a Methodist. He speaks well in your class meet-
SUPP06IXG A CASfi. 153
iugs, speaks, prays, and sings in your prayer-meetings, and
you become very favorably impressed with him as a Chris-
tian. He engages, perhaps, as clerk or bookkeeper in one
of your large business houses across the street, and during
three or six months appears so candid and punctual in all
business transactions, that they confide to his care impor-
tant business. But the opportunity arrives when he takes
advantage of this confidence, and forges a draft of $3,000,
and it is cashed, and he is off, never to be heard irom again.
Now as you learn of this dark deed, you have no idea of
acknowledging that man as a Christian brother, have you?"
''Oh, no, oertiunly not; we expect and know there are
hypocrites."
''So do we expect hypocrites in our abolition ranks ;
but because of counterfeit money we would not reject the
true coin."
In the evening I was introduced to Mr. Adams, of South
Carolina, with whom we all seemed to enjoy free and easy
conversation. He was quite pleased to find his servant
Jack, and a secret thought stole over me that he was also
pleased to get mih him two or three times his value in gold.
Sabbath morning Ben Franklin No. 2 packet came in,
and I prepared to go to the boat, as the jailor said the
sheriff had not yet returned from the country. Said the
jailor:
" I do n't like to have you leave without seeing Fair-
banks, as you are the only friend who has called on him.
I have a great mind to assume the responsibility of just tak-
ing you into the jail a few minutes before you go."
" I would thank you very kindly," I said, " if you think
it prudent; but if not, I shall not urge you in the least."
"I reckon there can be no harm done. Come on, well
go," and I followed him into the jail, and he called for
Fairbanks.
I met him under circumstances that had caused such
bitter prejudices against him that there was no shadow v'^
154 A woman's life-work.
probability that any thing like justice would be shown him.
Besides, there were forty sad faces before me, of persons
who, the jailer told me, had committed no crime, but were
placed there for safe keeping^ as they had been purchased in
different places for" the lower market A gavg was being
prepared by a trader, and these were all shades, from the
ebony black to those with &ir skin, straight hair, and blue
eyes, widi hardly a vestige of African descent. With this
scene before me, I could not restrain tears, neither were
Calvin's eyes dry. As he held my hand in both of his, he
said:
** Let us keep good courage. I think I shall be released
. after my trial. I want you to see my lawyer, Mr. Thrus-
tou ; he says he will take my case through for six hundred
dollars."
I told him I had no power to indemnify a lawyer. And
after I received his note urging me to see him, I sent a note
back by the keeper to that effect.
'* But if you can see him, he may fall in his price two
Imndred or three hundred dollars. Do n't leave without
seeing him."
I told him I would have seen him if he had been in
town on receiving his note, and yet I could see no import-
ant benefit in securing an interview with the lawyer, as
his figures, unless greatly reduced, were beyond our reach
in Cincinnati.
" Perhaps he may reduce them if you see him."
With these beseeching words, with tearful eyes that
brought tears to the eyes of the colonel as well, the colo-
nel said at once:
** I think you ought to comply with Fairbanks's request,
and stay over one more trip. You can stop Mrith us and
be welcome. If you choose to call on Dr. Field, as Fair-
banks has suggested, you can do so ; but I reckon it's your
duty to see his lawyer."
Dr. Field was a practical abolitionist. Like Dr. Bria-
INTERVIEW WITH FAIRBANKS. 166
baoe and James G. Bimey, he emancipated his own slaves,
and left Louisville on account of slavery, and made a home
in Jeffersonville, on ^e Indiana side of the river.
As it was now ten minutes, double the time suggested
by the jailer while we were on our way to the jail, I turned
to the keeper, and told him aa my interview was prolonged
beyond its limit, I would go ; and on taking leave of Cal-
vin he pointed to four men standing a few feet from him,
and said, *^ Do you know those men?^
I looked up and nodded to them a recognition. They
were fugitives who had been recaptured by virtue of the
fugitive slave law passed in 1850, some of whom had made
their escape from slavery many years before. One, whose
name waa Baker, with whom I was well acquainted, had
hair straighter and skin &irer than very many of our
Anglo-Saxon race. These four answered to the nod, smil«
ing through their tears. They had enjoyed a taste of free-
dom, and now were to be hurled back to a dark life of
bondage more bitter to them than ever before. But not a
word could I utter to them. The slight bow, as I was
turning away, was all ; and yet that was sufficient to set
on fire a world of iniquity in the four officers in front of
the iron grates through which we conversed with Calvin
Fairbanks. These officers beckoned to the jailer as we
were passing through to the outer gate, and upon his open-
ing it, he said, .*'Will you please pass through the yard
into our apartments alone?"
" Certainly," I responded ; and turning to me, he re-
marked, " Those officers beckoned to see me a moment."
I drew my arm from his, that he had so politely ten-
dered in going to and from Calvin. In passing through
the yard I met their slave man, who said, in a low tone,
** Did you see Fairbanks?"
I answered, in a like tone, ** I did."
'' Glory!" he cried, just loud enough for me to hear.
Near the door I was met by Mary, who said but litf
156 A woman's life-work.
above a whisper, "Did you see him?" As I gave a nod,
she said, *'Good, good!** clapping her hands for joy.
I waited in the parlor for the return of the jailer, as
he had said he would go to the river with me. He soon
came in, pale and trembling with excitement.
** Mrs. Haviland, those officers are all boiling over ^vith
excitement. They wanted to know if I did n't see how
just the sight of you was like an electric shock all over
that crowd of slaves. ' Did n't you see those four runa-
ways cry at the sight of her?* said one of the officers. I
told them my attention was all taken up with your con-
versation with Fairbanks, and noticed nothing of others.
They say it is very evident that you are a dangerous per-
son, and deserve to be here in this jail just as much as
Fairbanks, and they are for arresting you at once ; and I
do n't know, Mrs. Haviland, that it will be in my power
to protect you. There have been threats in the papers
every day since you 've been here ; and Shotwell has had
his officers out hunting in every hotel for you; but we
have kept it carefully from the public that you were with
me, until now these officers are determined to arrest you."
Baid I : ** Colonel Buckner, should your officers come
in this moment I have nothing to fear. The God of
Daniel is here at this hour. Should I be arrested, you
would n't keep me in your jail three days. I have no more
fear than if I were in my own room in Cincinnati."
His trembling voice became quiet; and more calmly
he said :
" Well, it is a glorious thing to feel like you do ; but
I reckon you'd better go over the river to Dr. Field's,
and when Mr. Thruston comes into the city I '11 send him
over to see you. I advise you not to set foot on the Ken-
tucky shore again, as I know it will not be safe. There is
this morning a great excitement all over town about you.
So one of the officers told me. But 111 go to the river
Hh you right soon."
vrerr to dr. field. 157
We started for the door, when he halted: ''I don't
think I hod better go with you now, as these officers may
come out and make trouble, and I reckon you 'd be safer
alone.**
'* Very well, I have no hesitancy whatever in going
alone;" and I bade him ''good-bye."
Ab I was opening the door he reached his hand to re-
turn the " Good-bye — God bless you!" and I left the jail
and jailer.
I passed a large hotel, with perhaps fifteen or twenty
men standing on the sidewalk in front. All seemed in a
perfect buzz of excitement. When I saw this company
of men, the first thought was to pass over on the other side.
*' But I will neither turn to the right nor the left, but pass
through their midst," was an impression that I followed ;
and 80 busily engaged were they in their excited conver-
sation that they hardly looked to see the little passer-by,
the subject of their thoughts and words. Said one :
" Great excitement in town to-day."
''Yes, sir; you can see a group of men at every street
comer."
I smiled to myself, as I thought, " Little do you think this
is the little old woman you are troubling yourselves over."
I soon was in Jefiersonville inquiring for Dr. Field's
residence, and was shown the house across the street, and
upon its front porch stood a little group — the doctor and
family, with two ministers — watching me ; and as I opened
the gate and inquired if this was Dr. Field's residence :
'' Yes, I am the Jason," said the doctor. '' We 've been
looking for you, Mrs. Haviland, every day since you 've
been in Louisville."
This was an unexpected salutation, and I felt at home
again as I clasped their warm hands of friendship.
" How is it that you have knowledge of me?"
''Just walk in, and I'll show you the papers; haven't
you seen them ?"
158 A WOMAN*8 UFE*WORK.
I told him I had Dot, and knew nothing of it until
just as I was leaving ; the jailer told me there had been
threats in the daily papers to arrest me. When I read
these little scurrilous articles, calculated to inflame an al-
ready inflamed public, I wondered, as well as the doctor,
that they had not found my whereabouts and made trouble.
I hoped my Cincinnati friends had not seen this, as I had
written them the reason of my delay, and sent the letter
by the same boat that brought me to Louisville. I enjoyed
sweet rest with these Christian friends, and attended with
them their afternoon meeting. The minister who preached
was as earnest an abolitionist as the doctor, and brother
Proctor preached as radical an abolition sermon as I ever
listened to ; it seemed like an oasis in a desert
The day following I sent a note to Liawyer Thrustou's
office, and received in reply the statement that his illness
had prevented his leaving his room during two weeks past,
and urged me to come and see him without delay, and he
would stand between me and all harm. The doctor said,
as he was a lawyer of influence in their city, he advised
me to go ; and as it was snowing a little, he gave me an
umbrella, with which I might screen myself while passing
the jail, as well as be sheltered from the snow. I found
the lawyer very af&ble in his manners, and he said they
would do the best they could for Fairbanks, and we might
pay what we could. I returned without difficulty to our
" Jason."
I wrote a little article under the caption of '* Correc-
tion,** and sent it to both the Commercial and Louisville
Courier. It was inserted, with the following editorial note:
** Notwithstanding the pretended laudability of her cr*
rand to our city, we are still satisfied it was out of no good
motive, as birds of a feather will flock together."
Most assuredly I was thankful to see the return of
** Ben Franklin, No. 2," which took me from that nest of
dean birds to those of more congenial and harmless
ON THE STEAMBOAT. 169
habits. My anxious friends in Cincinnati bad not received
either of my letters, and had read only these threatening
cards in the Cincinnati Cominerdaly copied from Louisville
dailies, that caused great anxiety. I sent a letter by both
tripe that this boat made during the week I was in Louis-
ville, and Colonel Buckner took both and said he w^ould
sec them delivered at the boat.
While on the boat a gentleman and his wife among
the passengers were returning to their Eastern home, with
whom I formed a pleasant acquaintance. Among other
topics of discussioii was the value of hygiene* and hydro-
pathy, in which a Louisville physician joined, narrating
his observations of the system during a practice of fifteen
years in Louisville. As he seemed to be an intelligent
and social gentleman, we all seemed to enjoy our new
acquaintances. I remarked to him that there seemed to
exist quite an excitement in his city during the week past,
over an old lady who took a few articles of uuder-dothes
and a quilt or two to Fairbanks.
"O, yes; were you in the city?^
*'Iwas, and was surprised at the excitement produced
by her presence."
''Well, I suppose Shotwell did make a great stir over
his loss of a house-servant. I understand he spent three
hundred dollars in his effort to find that woman, as he
thought she knew where his slave was. I have forgotten
her name."
"Mrs. Haviland, from Cincinnati, was the one threat-
ened in your dailies," I replied.
**0h, yes, that was the name. I heard you say you are
going to Cincinnati ; do you know any thing of that lady ?"
"I do; I have been acquainted with her from child-
hooil."
"You have! What sort of a lady is she?"
** Well, if you should see her, you would n't think it
worth while to raise all this breeze over her, or any thin/
160 A woman's life-work.
she could do. She is a little, ijisiguificaat lookiug woman,
anyhow; and yet I think she is conscientious in what
she does."
*' There wouldn't have been such a stir but for Mr.
Shot well, who felt himself wronged in the loss of his house
servant"
"But he is considered one of your most influential citi-
zens, I am told."
"Yes, madam; I reckon well have to excuse him, for
ho is quite nervous and angry over Fairbanks."
After quite a lengthy conversation on this subject, my
new lady friend, to whom I liad related a portion of my
Louisville experience, was waiting for an opportunity to
put a joke on the Louisville doctor, and called me by
name. At this the astonished doctor said :
"I reckon this is not Mrs. Haviland, b it?"
"That is the name by which I am called."
"Is this indeed the lady we've been talking about,
and of whose appearance you gave such a brilliant
description?" And he laughed heartily. "Well, well,
ilrs. Haviland, do n't judge our city by this little flurry of
excitement ; for we have good, substantial people in our
town, and I hope you'll visit our city again sometime, and
you'll find it's true. I reckon if those excited men had
arrested you, there would have rallied to your aid a difier-
ent class of men ; for your errand was perfectly proper,
and you would have been borne out in it, too, by the more
sensible people of our city."
But my Cincinnati friends were not so confident of my
safety. Said Levi Coflin, as I met him, "Dr. Brisbane
has said it was most likely that we should find thee in
prison; and our friend, James G. Birney, is also very
much discouraged, and said he was sorry tliou went at this
time of excitement, of both North and South, over the
lynching of Williams near Baltimore, the binding of Conklin
^nd throwing him into the river, and now the illegal capture
FOURTEEN SLAVES ESCAPE. 161
of Calvin Fairbanks in Indiana, and taking him over into
Kentucky and lodging him in jail there. But they have
no regaid or respect for law. As we knew all this, we
have all been exceedingly anxious for thy safety."
It was a season of rejoicing with us all that our suf-
fering brother in prison had received present relief; and
no threats were put in execution in regard to myself. I
realized an answer to prayer before I left for that prison,
and not a moment while in Louisville did I in the least
doubt the keeping power to be stronger than the power of
darkness. Our friend, James .6. Bimey, being feeble in
health, sent for me to spend a day in his fiimily ; and a
rich feast I enjoyed in listening to the experience of that
noble Christian man« Worthy was he to have presided
over our nation.
Excitement does not cease, though the base is changed.
Hdings came to us that fourteen newly-arrived fugitives
were housed in the basement of Zion Baptist Church. I
repaired at once to see what was needed for their journey,
and found a very rick babe, twor months old. The mother
said it was very sick before they left, and she did not
expect it to live, but their arrangements were made to go
for freedom, and she would rather bury her child on the
way than to stay behind till it left her. It died that
night, and they were provided with a respectable coffin, and
the company, with others, formed a funeral procession to
the burying-ground. After the burial the Uiirteen fugi*
tives were taken to the Quaker settlement, twenty-five
miles distant, and from thence were forwarded to Canada.
The colored members of our vi^lance committee informed
me that an infimt died in that basement once before, and
they took up a part of the floor and buried the child in
the grave prepared for it, to avoid suspicion ; for its par-
ents were the slaves of a wealthy Kentuckian, who was
making great eflbrts to capture the family.
14
162 A woman's life-work.
Chapter VII.
CHRISTIAN AND EDUCATIONAL WORK.
Very many iucideiits of interest we must pass over;
but, suffice to say, there was seldom a week passed with-
out a slave or slaves leaving a boat or otherwise crossing
the river in quest of freedom.
I met on the street a sister White, who was much dis-
tressed about her son, who was almost gone with consump-
tion, and yet was unwflling to see any minister or religious
person, to say any thing to him about a preparation for
the change. *'Do, please, go with me now to see my
dying son Harvey. May be he '11 listen to you.''
I went to her house, and found him too weak to talk
much. The mother introduced me as her friend who had
called on her. I took his emaciated hand, and said, ** I
see you are very low and weak, and I do not wish to
worry you with talking, but you have but little hope of
being restored to health I should judge from your appear-
ance."
He turned his head on his pillow as he said, ''I can
never be any better — I can 't live."
" Then your mind has been turned toward the future,
and may the enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit lead
you to the Great Physician of souls, who knows every de-
sire of the heart, and is able to save to the uttermost, even
at the eleventh hour." I saw the starting tear as he looked
earnestly at me, while I was still holding his feverish hand
in mine. "Will it be too much for you, in your weak
condition, if I should read to you a few of the words of
^ur Lord and Savior?"
" O no, I 'd like to hear you."
A DEATH-BED REPENTANCE. 163
I opened to John xiv ; and upon reading a few verses
I saw that the impression made was deepening, and askeit
if it would worrj him too much if I should spend a few
moments in prayer.
*• O no, I 'd like to hear you pray."
Pkicing my hand on his forehead, I implored divine aid
in leading this precious soul to the cleansing fountain, and
that his faith might increase, and in its exercise be ena-
bled to secure the pearl of great price.
As I arose from bis bedside, he reached out both hands
for mine, and said, *' I want you to come to-morrow.* He
wept freely; and I kft with the btirden of that precious
soul upon my heart
The mother and sister, who were both professors of
religion, stood near the door weeping for joy over the con-
sent of the dear sou and brother to listen to the few words
of reading and prayer.
The ilay following I met tlie sick man again, and as
soon as 1 entered his mother's room she said, '' 0, how
thankfid we are to God for this visit to my poor boy ! He
seems in almost constant i>raycr for mercy. Early this
morning lie spoke of your coming to^lay."
As I entered his room he threw up both hands, saying,
** God will have mercy on poor me, won't hef
'* Most certainly," I resjionded ; " his word is nigh thee,
even in thy heart, and in thy mouth."
** Do pray for me," he requested.
I read a few wcrds from the Bible, and followed with
prayer, in which be joined with a few ejaculations. I left
him much more hopeful than on the previous day.
The next morning his sister came for me in great haste,
Bctyiogf *^ Brother Harvey wants to see you, quick."
It was not yet sunrise; but I hastened to obey the
message, as I supposed he was dying. Not a word passed
between us until we reached her brother's room. Upon
opening his door he exclaimed, ''Glory, glory to Ov
164 A woman's ufe-wobk,
Mn, Haviland I Come to me quick, I want to kiss you ;
for God brought me out of darkness this mommg about
the break of day. O hallelujah! Glory to Jesus I He
shed his blood for poor me ; and I shouted louder than I
could talk for a good many days. O, how I wish I had
strength to tell every body that I am happier in one min-
ute than I ever knew in all my life put together!''
He became quite exhausted in shouting and talking,
and I advised him to rest now in the arms of the beloved
Savior.
'* Yes, I am in his arms. Glory to his name for what
he has done for me! I want you to see my coushi George;
he is sick, and not able to come to see me to-day."
I told him I would within a few days, and left him,
with his cup of salvation overflowing.
About two hours before he died he looked at his
mother, smiling, and said, '* There 's Mary ; do n*t you see
her, standing at the foot of my bed?"
" No, my son, mother do n't see her."
" O, how beautiful she looks! It seems as if you mutt
see her," and he looked very earnestly at the object
''There, she 's gone now." Fifteen minutes before he
breathed his last he said, "Here she is again, and so
beautiful! Mother, can't you see her?"
•' No, son, I can 't see her."
" Beautiful, beautiful she is. There, she 's gone again."
Just as the soul took its flight, he upraised both hands,
with a smile, and said, ** Here she is, with two angeb with
her. They 've come for me ;" and the hands dropped
as the breath left him, with the smile retained on his
countenance.
The sister Mary, that died a number of years previ-
ously, was about four years old ; and his mother told me
she had not heard her name mentioned in the family for
months before Harvey's death.
My time was fully occupied in caring for the sick and
AT A SICK-BED. 165
dying, as chdera had become very prevalent and &tal.
Among the many who died with that diaeaac were Levi
and Catherine Coffin's daughter Anna, about ten years of
age, and a lady, the mother of three children, whose dying
request was that I should take charge of her children until
the return of their father, who was in California.
A few weeks passed, and my promise to Harvey White
was forgotten, until one morning it rushed upon me with
such force that I trembled. I hastened to see him, and,
to my surprise, he too was very near to death with con-
sumption, and without hope. His mother was a widow,
also an earnest Christian ; but her son George would not
allow her or any of the ministers of her acquaintance to
talk with him on the subject of religion. But he was glad
to hear that his cousin Harvey had died so happy ; and
she thought if I should tell him about Harvey he would
listen to me. He could speak but little above a whisper,
I told him of my reading to Harvey, and asked if he would
like to hear me read the same to him. He said he would ;
and I read the same words, and told him how earnestly
his cousin Harvey had prayed, and God, who hears and
answers prayer, answered him, and he died a ha|^y Chris-
tian. His feelings became tender, and I knelt by bis bed-
side in supplication. As I was about to leave, he said:
'' There is a difficulty in my way, and I think you can
remove it; but I am more rested early in the morning, and if
you can come to-morrow mornmg I will tell you what it is.**
I told him I would be tliere if life and health were spared.
The following morning I met him more rested. He said :
** I have tried to pray to God ; then it seems as if Jesus
Christ stands there, and if 1 pray to Jesus it do n*t feel
quite clear, because I want to go to head-quarters, and I
am confused, and do n*t know where to go or what to do,
and BO I 've given it all up ; for it ^ all dark before me,
and I've concluded to die iu the dark.^
This sorrowful condition of unbelief brought secret
166 A WOMAN^S LIFE-WORK,
prayer for divine guidance in words to place the divinity
of the Lord Jesus as clearly as possible before him. I read
a few passages where he manifested his power by mira-
cles, " that ye may know that the Son of man hath power
on earth to forgive sins." He heard me attentively, and
suddenly exclaimed :
'* Now I see it ; now I see it ; now I 've got a foothold.
Now I can pray. I want you to pray for me."
He followed in earnest prayer. At the close he raised
his clasped hands: *'I've found him; I Ve got him. 0,
how I wish I could have voice and strength to tell you
how happy I am I I want to go to my Savior ; he is my
all. But I can not tell it here ; I will tell it in glory.
It 's all light now ; the darkness is all gone."
He seemed much exhausted, and took .leave of his
mother and sister, and sank into a stupor, and quietly
passed away that afternoon.
I felt under renewed obligations to praise Him for his
loving kindness in reminding me so vividly of the promise
I made to that dying young man, Harvey White. How
careful we should be to attend to every little errand as we
are passing through our life-work. I felt to upbraid my-
self for being so inattentive to that request. Had that
precious soul left the shores of time without hope in Christ,
I could never have forgiven myself for my neglect.
There are neglected duties that dot my life here and there
with regrets, that have been lessons to teach the necessity
of greater faithfulness in the Master's work.
The daughter of John Hatfield came to me with the
word that there was a woman at their house who wished
to see me. Her father being a member of the vigilance
committee I went without delay, and found the woman in
great distress of mind. She said she was a slave, but had
the privilege of working in Cincinnati at house-cleaning,
washing, or any jobs she could j^et, by pajnng her mistress
hree dollars per week. In this way she had managed to
r
I
«
MABY FRENCH. 167
lay aside for herself over twenty dollars during nearly two
years. She had a husband and nine children, *'An' las'
year," said she, ** missus was gwine to sell my oldes' gal an'
her baby to get money to keep her two gals in school Norf
somewhars, an' she tuck her baby an' run off for Canada,
an' now she says she 's got to sell my Mary ;" and her tears
came as from a fountain.
** Why do n't she come away as your other daughter did V
Tasked.
'Oh, she can't; missus won't let one o' my family
come but me. She let's me conic an' do all her marketiu
arter I gets all her work a-goiu', so my man an' chillen
goes on wid it ; she lets me come to de city to work, an' I
pays her three dollars every week. Now I'se full o' trouble
over my Mary ;" and she wept so freely that it was some
time before ^he -'could give me this Httle sketch. I found
they lived fifteen miles from the river, and she had placed
her money in the hands of a colored man by the name of
Bailey, to keep for her to use at some future time in going
to Canada with her family. He had told her when the right
time came he would have her money ready for her, and
would help her. I told her I would gladly relieve her were
it in my power ; but all I could do was to advise her to
bring her family in the covered market wagon, and throw
a quilt or blanket over them ; then the hay she always put
in for her team over that, and a bag of apples, and
another of potatoes, or any thing she generally brought
into market, placed in front so as to present the appear-
ance of a load of marketing. As she had been over so
often, she said, the ferryman hardly ever asked her for her
pass, for he knew her so well. "Don't you see you are
the very one to bring yourself and family here? You
could drive over and take your family to either of tluree
places: to a colored family on Macallister Street, by the
name of Hall ; or to Levi Coffin's, on the comer of Ninth
and Walnut Streets ; or bring them here to John Hatfield's.
168 A woman's life-work.
At either of these places you are as sure of goiug through
safe as if you were abready in Canada." She listened
with great attention, and her tears dried away as she
looked up, with her jboe shining with hope, and said, " I
do b'leve I can do it; I never thought o' that I'll go to
Bailey for my money fus thing; an' I'll go mighty soon."
I charged her not to name to Bailey or any other human
being this side or the other, the plan I had given her, ex-
cept to her own family. Bhe promised, and left with a
much lighter heart.
A few days later I was requested to meet Mary French,
who would be at John Hatfield's house at twelve o'clock.
Her friend said, "She is nearly crazy, an' I coaxed her to
see you. She's los' faith in every body I reckon, for 'twas
a good bit afore I could get her to see you agin. She
said she did see you wonst, an' you could n't do uothin' for
her. She's bin house-cleanin' wid me, an' it 'pears like
she 's cryin' all the time, day an' night, an' me an' another
'oman got her to see you, if I 'd git you to come to Mr.
Hatfield's at noon." I found her wringing her hands and
weeping bitterly. As I looked upon that poor, despairing
woman that I had left so hopeful a few days previously,
I felt that I could say or do nothing for her but to point her
to the God of Israel, who is able and willing to lead his
oppressed children. I said, " Were you ever a Christian?"
''I was three years ago, an' I lived a prayin' life a year ;
then the white folks did so bad, it 'peared like I could n't
live 'ligion, an' I giv* it all up. Missus sole my poor gal
down de river, to sen' her two gals to de Norf to school ;
now she's gwine to sell my Mary, kase they 's runnin' short
o' money ; an' she missed sellin' my gal las' year. If I
hadn't lef de Lord maybe dis hard trouble wouldn't come
'pon me." And again she began to wring her hands with
convulsive weeping.
As I looked upon that poor, crushed spirit, tike
uost frantic with grief of auy person I ever saw, a fed-
PLANS PROPOSED. 169
ing of coafideuoe sprang up in me that she would become
firee. Said I, *' You have kno\Yu what it was to ask God
to give you freedom from siu, aud make you free from the
bondage of Satan. Now go to him with full purpose of
heart, and he will restore the joys of his salvation and
again will set you free in soul. Then, I feel confident that
the Captain of the soul's freedom will open the way for
freedom from this chain of slavery that now binds you as a
family. Now go to Jesus ; he will do great things for you.
You lose confidence in your friends, you lose confidence in
yourself; but go to the Lord Jesus, and believe he will
direct you, and he will do it Let prayer be thy constant
work, then fiiith will increase — that will not fiaiil." At these
few words she became calm, and said, as she looked up,
** Can you tell me where my daughter is?"
'* Certainly," I said, "I heard from her yesterday; she
» in Carthi^nia, Indiana. I had snpp^ she went
directly to Canada, and I was sony she stopped so near to
the line — not more than one hundred miles off."
**I was tole she went through this city with her baby."
" It was true," I answered. I was astonished to see her
wipe her tears away and become calm so soon, and con-
verse with so much composure.
" If we come soon can you go a piece wid us?"
''It will make no difference whether I am here
or not, if you go to either of the places I told you of.
There are a great many safe places here, but I gave those
•places you know so well, and can find day or night I
shall probably go to my home in Michigan next week, and
it is uncertain when I return ; but do n't forget to carry
your burden to the Lord by constant prayer for his direct-
ing hand; and whatever way he opens, take it; if it should
be any other way than the plan I suggested, take it, re-
gardless of what I have said, except to mind closely the
impressions you feel confident come from an All-wise Di-
rector. Do this, and I have great faith in your success
16
170 A WOMAN^S WFE-WORK.
Never have I had the stroug faith that I have at thid
moment, that if you go to the Savior for his help in this
time of your great need, he will lead you out of slavery.
I advise you not to wait for Bailey. If you come here
you can all be taken to Canada without a dollar."
This seemed to surprise her. She said she could get a
few dollars, as she was earning good day wagea
** One thing more I would say," I went on, ''and that
IS, wherever I may be, whether in my Michigan home, or
here in this city, I shall not forget to implore divine aid
in the deUverance of this family from slavery."
With this solemn interview we parted, and the burden
of prayer followed me to my home. Hardly a day passed
without presenting that poor famOy at a throne of grace
for their preservation.
Two months later found me again in the exciting scenes
of Cincinnati. My first inquiry was for Mary French.
" Yes, I heard a few days ago that her mistress had for-
bidden her ever to come to this city again, and had threat-
ened to sell the whole family down the river, and I suppose
they are all sold by this time," said John Hatfield. He
said she remained in the city three or four weeks after I
saw her, to get money to start with, but she was too late.
Her Mary was sold just before she returned home, and the
poor woman grieved so for her poor girl, tliat he heard
her mistress abused her, and threatened to sell them all.
It seemed as if I could hardly endure the thought, when I
had indulged such strong hope of her success, but I could not
yet give her up, though I regretted exceedingly her delay,
as I felt great confidence that He who notes the falling
sparrow, and hears the young ravens cry, would have
brought that fitmily out of bondage.
While in charge of the sick, word was brought by a
workman in a shop that there was an exciting report in
town that a market wagon brought over a load of nine
slaves early that morning, and that a reward of five hun-
A PRO-SLAVERY FRIEND. 171
dred dollars was offered for infcrmation of their where-
abouts. While my heart leaped for joy, hopiug it might
be Mary French and fiimily, yet as I was in a pro-slavery
family, my feelings were kept to myself. The man of the
house said:
'* What a pity to lose that amount of property I But
according to your principles, Mrs. Haviland, I suppose you
are glad of it"
'* Certainly. As I told you the other day, the negroes
have the same rights from their Creator that we have, and
no man or class of men has the right to take them away.''
"Now can't you set aside these notions of yours? You
can easily find out where they are, and slyly report them,
and here 's your five hundred dollars."
' * I would not for ten times that amount. Would you do it ? "
" Certainly I would, and should think it my duty."
" I am astonbhed to hear this from one who professes
to be a follower of the Lord Jesus, a part of whose mission
was to unbind the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go
free. -It is pain to me to hear you advance the sentiments
you do in the presence of your children ; and a class-leader
in the Methodist Protestant Church. I can not hencefor-
ward acknowledge you as a brother in Christ"
" Why, Mrs. Haviland I You are the most uncharita-
ble person I ever met This hurts my feelings more than
any thing you have said in presenting your radical position."
" I do hope and pray that the enlightening influences
of the Holy Spirit may lead to a &r different view from
your present one. I am grieved to hear this from one who
is looked upon as a leader to the Lamb of God, who shed
his blood for the whole universe of man, regardless of color
or nation."
His reply was, "I want to refer you to a few more
Scripture arguments that I have not mentioned. To-night,
from seven o'clock till nine, I want to talk with you on
this subject"
172 A woman's j.ifr-work.
I told him I would be ready, but I had one request,
aud that was to make this a subject of prayer, as I should
myself, during the day. He said he would seriously look
it over, aud left for his business.
At uiue o'clock my patieut was comfortably cared for,
aud I had been talking of gting to Levi CofHu's on an
errand for a number of days. I asked permission of her
to be absent an hour for that purpose, and her consent for
two houra was given. On my way I called on John Hat-
field, to know whether this company of slaves was not the
Mary French family.
"Oh, no, that iwor family has gone down the river.
I heard some days ago that they were sold to a trader."
"The market- wagon was the plan I gave Mary, and I
hoped so much that it was her family."
" Yes, but we should be just as glad for other slaves
panting for liberty, as for her," and I accepted the remark
as almost a half reproof for being more anxious for her
than for other slaves.
As I entered Catherine Coffin's room I inquired whether
she knew this morning's company of the nine slaves to be
Mary French and family. " I know nothing of the name,
but a woman aud little child are up in our attic; but no-
body knows it about this house but Levi and L"
" Please go up and tell her a friend is going to call on
her, so as not to frighten her."
'* Go on ; she *11 know we would let no one but a friend
go up." I walked slowly up to the fourth story, and lo !
on a box in the corner sat Mary French, with her little
grandchild sitting at her feet. " Is it possible that is
Mary French ? " I exclaimed. Rhe sprang to me with out-
stretched arms, clasped me with tears of joy, and leaning
her head on my shoulder, sobbed.
" O, my God has saved me so fiur, but my pore Mary
was sole down de ribber, when I 's here in de city to git
little money to start wid. When I gets into missus' door,
MABY FREXCH's STORY. 173
I sort o' felt somethin' wroDg, an' axt lier, * Whar's Mary?"
She Bay, 'I sole her las' week/ an' I cried, *0 luy God!
save my pore chile Mary!' an' she kotched up de tongs
au' beat me ou my head 'til I loss my miu', and when I
come to I was layiu* ou de floor bleediu'. You see here is
a sore yit" (pointing to her head). There was a gash, that
must have been three inches long by the apjiearauce of the
scar and sore, yet unhealed. '* Missus said I never, the
longes' day I live, should set foot in Cincinnati, 'case free
niggers ruin me, an' afore she have such a fuss as dis, she
put de hull of us in her pocket I knowd what dis mean,
and I tried mighty hard to cheer up afore her. But my
tears was my meat and drink a few days. I 'mcmbcrcd
your word to go to de Lord day an' night, 'case I could n't
come to you no mo'e. In three days he answered my
prayer, an' jus' tole me I 's gwine to be free, an' I tole my
husban' so, but he could n't git faith in me. J tole 'im to
put faith in God, as I did now. But I did lose faith iu
my bes' frien' when Bailey tole me you an' Hatfiel' bc«
traycd my gal Bally, an' got a hundred dollars rewai'd ;
den I was mos* crazy. And when dat 'oman tole me to
go to you, an' I tole her I did talk to you, and to!e her
what Bailey said 'l)out you an' Hatfiel', she said he was a
bad man, an' lied only to keep my money. She begged
me so hard I tole her if you 'd tell me whar Sally is, I 'd
have faith in you, an' when you tole me so quick, all my
&ith in you come back. How I wish you could see my
man, for he 's so sure they '11 cotch us. I do n't know whar
he is, for we 's scattered among de good people. O, what
a time I had wid 'im to git 'mi started. I loaded an' un-
loaded four times afore he 'd come. At las' a pore white
man tole me he hear missus say she gwine to sell us all to
de firs' trader come along. I say, ' What shall I do?' He
say, ' If I was you, I 'd run away.' I say ' Here 's my man
an' chillen, can't go widout 'em.' He say ' All go, an' if
dey cotch you 'twon't be no wuss dan to go to de trader
174 A woman's LIFE-WORIC.
aud if I can do any way to help you I will, for I feels
' Borry for you.' When I tole my mau, he was ao skeered
he did ii*t kuow hisself scaraely. He was ready to do any-
how I wants *irQ, an' I went to dis white luau, an* ax *ira
for his boy ten year ole, to go wid me to market, an' take
all my family, an' I 'd cover 'em up in de market wagon.
* An' I 'II tell your boy I wants 'im to watch my team for
me, an' I *11 gib 'im a dollar.' ' All right, only tell 'im
M'hat you 11 do, an' tell 'im to come an' ax me ; an' he
musn't know I knows abDut it' An' I tuk missus' young
bosses, an' put my man an' chillen in, cover em up; den
put a bag o' taters an' apples an' a basket o' chickens in
front. An' I had dis little boy by de chickens, so if he cry
or make a noise I shake de basket an' de noise vt de
chickens kill de noise of de boy. An' I drove de fifteen
miles to de ribber by daylight, and drove back of Covin*-
ton till de smoke of de ferry boat rise ; den I prayed (iod
to keep de ferryman from axin' me for my pass. For I 's
mighty feared he would, 'case I had n't been hero in so
long. An' jus' afore sun up my man crawled out de back
of de wagon. I told do boy to hoi' de bosses till I fix
somethin'. I whispered, * Get back quick, for God's sake,'
au' he whispered, * Let 's go Ixick, I knows dey 11 cotch
us.' 'Go back ! Man, its death to go back ; we W be in
jail in no time waitin' for de trader.' An' he crawl back
an' I tuck 'im up agin, an' we trimble like a popple leaf.
Den de smoke jus' rise on de ferry-beat, an' I drove (>n
wid de white boy by my side. I prayed dat de Linil
would n't let de ferryman ax me for my pass. If he did
I 's gwine to say, ' Dis white boy my pass ; ' but he did n't
say a word, an' I praise God for answerin' my prayer."
I told her she had nothing to fear from the five hundred
dollars reward ; she was in good hands ; all she had to do
was to go when they were ready to take them ; but 1
would write a few lines for her to tuke to the first stopping
\ce afler leaving the city, advising to go by way of
t
REWARD OFFERED. 175
Cartbaginia. ^' Write me from that town, and tell your
daughter to go ou to Canada with you without fail."
I left her with a lighter heart, rejoicing with that re-
joicing fiunily, though yet trembling with fear. The time
appointed fbr the two hours' diacuflBioh on the subject of
slavery arrived. My pro^kvery friend was not cUsposed
to open the conversation he desired in the morning. After
waiting until one hour had elapsed, I asked if he was pre-
pared to bring the Scripture arguments he had for my
oonsidecatioii at this hour. He replied that he had thought
of but little else during tlie whole day ; but ou the whole
doubted whether his reasons would stand the test, and de^
clined saying any thing &rther in defense of the position
he had advanced. A few weeks later he died of cholera.
I called on his widow, who said he died a happy soul, and
often spoke of his confidence in me as an honest-hearted
Christian, and she never heard him speak disparagingly
of the colored people after the long conversation we had
on that subject. I r^retted the loss of an opportunity of
Keing him after Mary French aiid fanuly were safe in
Canada. I wished to giv^%im their history, as I felt sure
it would have been '* like a nail driven in a sure place.**
He had lived in the South, and the subject of slavery had
never been placed before him in this way.
The reward for the nine slaves was doubled on the
second day of their exodus. All the clew the hunters got
of their whereabouts was from the boy tliey met at the
ferry. He could not read the names on the streets, and
could only point as near as he knew in the direction where
they all left. He told them he didn't know there were
any in the wagon but " bkck Mary," till they all got out ;
Uien she told .him to go to Walnut Street ferry, and he
drove two or three blocks when he stopjied and cried, be-
cause he did n't know where to fiud Walnut Street Then
a man came and told him to stop crying and he 'd drive
him to the ferry. They went to HalFs, ou Macallister
176 A woman's life-work.
Street, but not one was left there five minutes. They were
coudueted to different hiding-places, and not (me was left
within a half a mile to a mile from that part of the .city.
Slave-hunters were paid from three dollars to seven dollars
a day for watching around those suspected streets and
those leading northward. The &mily were dressed in
disguise and taken out Jn three carriages, dosed, and two
white men in front, that gave an impression at sight of a
load of white people. At noon-day, in this manner, they
rounded the comera, where were standing some of their
hunters who were receiving their seven dollars a day,
as was ascertained by a scheme gotten up by the colored
people.
The next evening after the nine fugitives were taken
northward, they drove a double carriage into an alley
near North Street, and the same number of colored people,
so closely watched for, were hustled in with haste, and
driven off with sjiced. The call to '* Stop, halt," was not
heeded, until the police rushed at the increased cry, '* Stop
Ihief^ STOP THIEF,** and slackened their pace. But while
the exdted crowd gathered 1^ see the police arrest tho
thieves, the colored man beside the driver demanded the
reason why he and his ladies should receive this insult to
hinder their pleasure ride. By throwing a light from their
dark lantern in the faces of their pursuers, the hunters
they had suspected were recognized, to their great annoy-
ance. There were those among them who would not have
l)een exposed, perhaps, for half the amount of the rewanl.
A few days subsequent to thb little episode I received
a letter from Mary, after their arrival at Carthagiuia,
where she met her daughter, who, with her child, made
their party num1)er eleven. They very soon reached tho
"land of the free.'' Nothing further was heard from them
until I went with my two daughters to Windsor, Canada
West, to attend their first of August celebration, in com-
^oration of West India emancipation. There were
IN CANADA. 177
gathered « very large coDgregation in a grove,, of both col-
ored and white i)eopIc. While listeuiug to an eloquent
oration delivered by Samuel J. &Iay, of Boston, I was
taken from my seat and borne away a few rods, hardly
touching the tope of the bushes with my feet I turned
first one way and then the other, until I discovered the
sable fiu» of Mary French, with big tears rolling down her
cheeks. Not a word was spoken until we were entirely
away from the congregation, and I said, "Mary, haVn't
we gone far enough f" when she let me down, and caught
hold of my hands and kissed them, while tears of joy were
still fistlling. " O, how happy we is to be all free. Can 't
you go to Maiden an' see all my family ? I knows my
man would come all dis way afoot if he knowed you 's
here." I told her I could not, as I must return the next
day with my two daughters.
" Is dey heah V
''They were sitting by my side," said I; 'Hhose two
^rls dressed in white are my daughters."
''Sweet cretursi de little angels; I mus' go see 'em.
I's got two gals here, too, an' 111 bring 'em to see you."
And soon her hands were placed on the shoulder of each,
still weeping for joy as she said : " God bless you! You
tinks it strange to see an old black 'oman come to you like
dis, but you would n't if you know'd what your mother has
done for me an' my family. If it had n't been for her we
should all been in slavery to dis day. I wants you to go
out dar whar you see your mother standin' afore a great
while. I 'm gwine back to her now." She came with her
two girls, who were also very demonstrative in shaking
and kissing my hands ; but they laughed instead of wec})-
ing as did their ovorjoye<1 mother. By the time my
daughters came to us we were served with cake and ice
cream. As she and her daughters had on the ground a
little stand from which they made sales, their &vor8 in
this line were re|)eated.
178 A woman's i^ipe-wobk.
. Instead of one year's suspension, as we designed, we
bad deferred finishing our institute building in Michigan
from time to time, until four years had elapsed. As the
Ohio school law made provision to support a colored school
in any town or place where there were as many as fifteen
regular scholars, my daughter Anna and myself taught a
school for them of one hundred scholars one term, in the
iMsement of Zion Church, Toledo. The expenses were paid
from the school fund.
With several fugitives, I started on my way to Toledo
from Cincinnati, and spent a day at our friend William
Beard's. From thence we were taken to Newport, Indi*
aua, where was a meeting appointed in behalf of Calvin
Fairlmuks, in which I gave a sketch of my visit to Louis-
ville jail in his behalf. I read the letter I had received
from his lawyer on leaving Cincinnati, containing a propo-
sition to do the best he could for him, and with that object
in view he staved off the case to the next session of their
court. At the close of the meeting fifteen dollars were
raised, Bishop Quinn, of the African Methodist EjMSCopal
Church, giving one-third of it. As there was a &31 of
snow a foot deep, the friends concluded to take us across a
swamp, which would save a number of miles; and as there
were indications of a thaw, one man offered his team and
double sleigh if a certain colored man would go that night
and drive it. We Avere soon Avell protected from the pro-
spective inclement weather, with the buf&Io-robe presented
to me, and quilts around the lialance of our load.
The shifting wind brought quite a snow-storm, that
covered us over about three inches deep. My company
l)eing very cold, I advised to stop at a house, the dim
light of which was so tempting to tlie shivering com|)any.
I went to the <loor and asked |)ermissiou to enter, giving
our numl)er, and our object in going through the swamp
before a break-up. The two old people granted the favor;
^ut when the old lady saw the color of ray company she
ox THE ROtJTE. l79
became rather suspicious. Baid she, '* If these are slaves
we do n't want any trouble, because you know the Fugi«
ttve-slave Law makes a deal of trouble in some places."
I assured her they would have noire of that character on
our account, for these young people were going with me
to attend my school. When we were warmed and the
horses fed, we left our kind friends to borrow no more trouble
ibr fear of being disturbed with slave-huuters.
About three o'clock we came to a large half-finished
frame house, brilliantly lighted, and the man seemed to be
preparing his team for leaving. I called with our driver to see
if we could warm ourselves and feed the team, giving our
reason for crossing the swamp to save distance, and as
there were indications of a thaw in the afternoon, we chose
to come through that night The man said that was his
reason for going for a load of lumber so early — he fearing
a break-up. They were very kind, and insisted on our
resting till daylight, and taking a warm breakfiist The
invitation was accepted with gratitude. I spent my time
in conversing with our kind hostess, while my company
slept an hour.
At nine o'clock we reached Garthagmia. The first one
we met was a colored woman, of whom I inquired where
we could find a place to tarry for a night, and find prov-
ender for our horses. She took in our situation at once,
and pointed to a large frame house in sight, the house of
Samuel Jones, half a mile distant While she was giving
this information, a man ahead of us, with his carriage,
stopperl and turned Inck, saying, "There is Mr. Jones
now, coming to see you, I reckon." As he came to us, I
told him of the inquiry I made for a resting-place. **And
that is my house for you and bam for your horses," he
said. After giving each of us a shake of the hand, he
saidi turning to me, ** I know yon, though I never saw
you 1x;fore, and I will tell you of a circumstance, after we
get home, whereby you will recognize me." Wo followec^
180 A woman's life-work.
him to his very comfortable home. We were soon seated
at a luxurious table. Breakfast being over, he related a
circumstance in which I had taken a deep interest, and by
corresponding, the release from slavery of his relative was
effected.
Brother Jones gave me ten dollars for brother Fair-
banks, in the Kentucky prison. Here \ve took leave of our
conductor, Henry Marshal, and a team and teamster were
provided to take us On by way of Bellefoutaine. The an-
ticipated warmer weather overtook us, and with a wagon
we left Carthaginia. Streams with floating ice made ford-
ing difficult, especially Mosquito Creek; but our driver
and Simon measured the depth of water, and with rails
pushed the floating ice from the ford, to enable roe to drive
through. Working as they did with all their might to keep
the cakes of ice from running against the horses and from
impeding the wheels, when we reached the swift current
of the stream a cake blocked the wagon so as to stop the
horses a few moments. One horse became discouraged and
began to lie down. At this the three uomen jumped upon
a large floating cake, from which they reached the shore
with the help of the men. Our teamster found his way
into the wagon; and by pushing and crowding this way
and that he loosened the wheel, and with continued urging
and Simon's wading to the horses' heads, they finally pulled
through. We drove to a house, where the men changed
their socks, and rubbed their horses with straw, they said,
two hours, and then fed them. We pursued our journey
without further difficulties to our school in Toledo.
Often did my whilom slave scholars refer to the excite-
ment at Mosquito Creek ford. I found the prejudice here
very bitter against a colored school; but the colored people
had combined their weak forces and built a church, designed
for school, as well as their occasional meetings. My school
avcmged nearly twenty scholars during the term, at the
close of which we put in a petition for a sup|)ort from the
ODI/)RRD KC*H(N)U 181
school fund. But a majority of two ruled against us; for,
althougii the State law requireil them to BU])iK>rt this school,
they had already complied with the roquii'enieut
Although I had designed to returu home and re-ojieu
Baisin Institute, yet to press the board of education int(»
its duty I reopened their school for the second term ; and
every time that board met I met i^ith them with my })eti-
tion, informing them, at their first refusal to adopt the
school, that this ])etition of the im|X)rtunate widow would
stand before them until it ^vas granted. They frequently
inquired of the colored people how long I was going to
teach for them. The answer every time wtis, as I told
them, until the board of education took it. In their dis-
cussions in the board I understood it was frequently re-
marked by our opposers '* that the end of that n^ro school
would he when Mrs. Haviland left, and tliat would n't bo
long, for the n^;roes were too poor to pay her.** But it
was not for money that I taught their school, but to see
justice meted out to them.
There were fifteen families of the lower class of Irish
who lived in shanties near the canal that ran within a few
rods of our school-house, and as the most of our sc1um)1
passed them, or would have to go half a mile fiirther, we
got from one man in particular a S3rstematic cursing ; ]x>
ginning with cursing my feet, and cursing every toe on
them, and cursing every nail on every toe, and so on, to
cursing my head, and cursing every hair on it. This rcg-
idar set of curses were for me every time I passed when
he was in his cabin, and frequently a number of others
standing by would join him. But as he or some of the
others were so often drunk, it was a long time before I
could find the suitable opportunity to go to their cabins
and have a talk with them, as I desired. As some of their
company were so Ixiisterously furious, the children did not
dare jmss them unless I was with them, for in addition to
caning they were stoned.
182 A woman's i.ifb-wobk.
^Vhen the second term was two-thirds through I pro*
posed a picuic for the school and its fricuds, and had the
scholars declaim a few pieces. Au elaiueut speech deliv-
ered in the House of Lords, when inuuediate emancipation
was discussed in the English jxirliainent, was well com*
nutted and declaimed by one of the young men. A num*
bcr of the colored i)eople feared a mob, but the majority were
willing to risk any measure I thought best to adopt I
trained them thoroughly in speaking, and they trained
themselves in singing, and the school selected a little girl
to be crowned as their queen of May, and on the 25th of
May we marched through town to a grove, with two beau-
tiful banners. The one borne by the young woman who
w*alked by my side bore tlie motto, " God is love," and
next to it all the girls followed in couples. Then followed
the young men and ]py» in the same manner, headed by
tlie banner, upon which was inscribed, "Knowledge is
jxjwcr." I instructed the children and young ^leople to
walk straight forward, and not even turn their heads to
the right or left, and not to notice by lock or word any
remark that might be made, not even to talk to each other
until we reached our little stand in the woods. Not a
word of disrespect Was heard, and some of the white peo-
ple who drove out with their carriages told me they had
not seen such order in marching in any of the May picnics
that the white schools had had tliat Spring. They were
highly delighted with our exercises. At the next session
of the board my school was recognized as a public one,
and the chairman. Rev. Dr. Smyth, was authorized to hire
me to teach the next term. He met me on the street and
said, '* Airs. Haviland, the imjiortuiuite widow's prayer is
answered; your petition is granted at last, and I am in-
structed to hire you for the next term."
*Then my work is finished with this term," said I.
"My olijcct is accomplished. I have business at home that
^ ho^)cd to have entered u})on when I closed last term;
IRIBH FRIENDS. 183
bnt as your board refused to do its duty I contiuued, al-
though I have not averaged twenty-five cents a week dur-
ing the six months, as a large majority of the colored
people here are very poor."
''I know that, and I have contended from the first
that they ought to have a school ; but I am supriscd at
your not remainmg in the achocl, as you shall liave a fair
compensation now."
I tokl him I would give him the name of a competent
teacher, who was now working himself through college at
Oberlin — John Mitchel — a worthy Christian young man of
their own color» with whom they could corree^pond and se-
cure his bervices. His parents were living in Toledo, and
he woiUd be plea&ed to accept the positicm. I tlianked the
boanl through their chairman for the favor they liad
granted in behalf of the colored people in Toleda
It being the seventh day of the week, as I was |iassing
my Irish friends, and all quiet, and a company sitting on
the grass in the shade uf their cabins, I accepted this as
my bng-Bonght opportunity to talk with them. Address-
ing a group of half a dozen women, I said : *' I have long
desired to talk with you, as I am confident you do not
umlerstand me in teaching this colored school. I have
felt it my duty to aid the most neglected class of pecple.
We are apt to indulge in prejudices against certain classes
or nations of i)eople. Home people are prejudiced against
the German people. They '11 say he's nobody but a Dutch-
man, he's not worth noticing; and others are prejudiced
against the Irish, and will say, ' They are nobody but Irish
]>oople, they are not worth noticing;' and others Kve pre-
judiced against black people: 'They are nobody but
negroes, and they are not worth noticing. And then there
are some who are prejudiced against soldiers, or sailors, as
classes of men. People are too apt to despise other na-
tions and classes of men. All this is wrong; God mad^
us all as it pleased him, and it is not for us to find Ca
184 A woman's L.IFE-WOBK.
with our Heavenly Father, who loves all the haman fam*
ilj alike. As we acknowledge the fatherhood of God, we
should also acknowledge the brotherhood of man in all
nations and classes."
Said one man to his friend sitting by, ** In faith, Pat,
that 's good doctrine." *' Yes, indade, that 's the doctrine
Father Mathew prached, ye know." ''Jamie, that's all
right," said another. One of the women concluded she
would know the truth of the reports they had gotten up
among themselves.
** An* did ye not marry a nagur?"
'* Why, no! my husband was a white man, who died
a number of years ago."
''And was he a black man?"
" He was a white man, and he left me with eight chil-
dren, all under age, and the youngest and the oldest have
followed their &ther."
" In &th, ye 've seen a dale of trouble, I 'm sure ; and
we heard that black man we often saw comin' from schule
with ye au' that yellow lass an' boy was your chilther."
'* That mulatto girl and boy live near my boarding-
place, and they generally come and go with me to school
and return ; and that black man is a young man who has
never had the privilege of going to school and learning to
read and write and the use of figures, until I opened this
school. Now he can read, write, and can use figures to
good advantage."
" But it 's a pity we did n't know ye before. We 've
l)een hearin* all this about yc, an' not a bit of it true.
Our people was about to set fire to your schule-house — in
faith, they said they 'd give ye a dressin' of tar an* fithers,
an' our praste forbid it."
" I knew nothing of that," said I; " but I wanted you
to understand me before I left, which will be in four weeks.
Then they will have a fine young colored man from Ober-
n College to teach their scfaooL"
CHRISTIAN WORK. 185
** But what a pity that is, for I 'm sure they '11 not get
another such a tacher as you. Indade, I 'm sorry to hear
you 're to lave us ; l*d like to have my little gal go to
your schule, if ye '11 take 'er."
The man who was the systematic curser came to his
door : *' Indade, missus, we did n't know ye; an' now we '11
fight for ye, an' we are sorry we did n't know ye for so
long."
When I left them I shook hands with them all, for
by the time our conversation closed about all their little
community had convened, and I took occasion to speak
highly of Father Mathew, the great temperance reformer
of Ireland ; and my little congr^;ation pronounced as strong
blessings upon me as they had curses. Even my system-
atic curser was/imong my best friends after that, and my
scholars, as well as myself, were treated with the utmost
respect ever after, and two of them sent for me when very
sick and not expected to live, one of whom died a few
days after. As she was in great distress of mind, I read
to her some of those precious promises of our Savior, from
which she drew great consolation. It would seem to many
like casting pearls before swine to turn aside to present the
truth to such ignorant and disliking people, but it is ours
to obey these little impressions, and leave the result with
the All-wise Director.
During my work in Toledo I- called on a colored
woman to solicit a little change for a very sick man who
was very low with consumption, and was being cared for
by a very poor family, and as she gave me twenty-five cents
a beautiful white girl was sitting by, who gave another
quarter. % After school I called again and iuquired for that
young woman who gave for that sick man, without giving
me time to ask for her mite, and, to my surprise, found
she was an inmate of a house of ill-fame, and tried to
make Mrs. Buck promise not to tell me where she was living;
fbr if I knew it I would never speak to her. I sent for he
16
186 A woman's life^wobk.
to meet me the following day after school, at her house.
I found her sitting in the ]iarlor waiting for me. As I
took her by the hand, placing the other on her head, I said,
''My dear girl, you are an unhappy child." And she
burst into a flood of tears, and as soon as she could suffi-
ciently command her feelings to relate her history I found
she was compelled by her stepfather to live away from
home. She had lived a year or more with a worthy woman,
who kept a boarding-house in Cleveland ; and there came
to board a few weeks a fine appearing young man, who
professed great auction for her, and proposed marriage.
He told her his father was a very wealthy merchant in
Toledo, and he was there on business for his father. After
he had won her affections he proposed to take her to To-
ledo, and place her in a bouding-house vutil she could
make up two rich silk dresses and other clothing suitable
for her, as he was not willing his folks should know he was
marrying a poor girl. He could easily take a dress pat-
tern from each bolt of silk and his father never know it,
and any other goods she needed. As his father was going
to New York for a new supply of goods, he would supply
her with other goods to make up until his father's new
goods came, then he would hire a dressmaker to make up
her silk dresses. All this she fully believed, as from a
true and faithful lover, to whom she had given her heart's
best and purest affections. She said, ''A number of days
I hesitated, because I wanted to tell my mother all about
it; but he })ersisted in leaving Cleveland secretly, and
return on our bridal trip to surprise my mother and that
cruel stepfather. At last I foolishly consented, to my ruin
and sorrow, for I hav n't seen one moment of peace since
I was deserted by that man ;*' and again bathed herself
in tears. Recovering herself, she continued, "I wouldn't
have my mother know this for the world. She is a good
Christian woman. She's a Methodist, and has seen a sight
of trouble with my stepfather; and, if she knew this, it
RESCUED FBOM SHAME. 187
would break lier heart" On furtlier inquiry I found
he brought her to this houee as an excuse to keep
her secluded until they were about to be married, when
he would pay her board a few days in tlie finest hotel in
the city. '^The next day after our arrival he brought me
a beautiful lawn dress-pattern and a package of other ma-
terial for nie to make up while waiting for his father's
goods. And not till then had he offered in word or act
any thing amiss from a perfect geutleniau. It was the
next day after our arrival in this city, and to this house,
that he proposed to live two weeks as if we were married,
as it would be about a week or two at longest when the
goods would be here, and he would get one or two dress-
makers to prepare me for my wedding. I cried two days
over thb proposition, and by this time I had learned the
character of this house. Here I was, a stranger to every
body, but still had confidence in my new friend ; and again,
to my bitter sorrow, I yielded. But day after day of anx-
ious waiting ])as8ed until two weeks expired, and no new
goods yet; but another lawn dresB-^iattem came for me to
make for myself, and another two weeks rolled away with
only lieariug (he said) tliat the gO'jds were on the way.
But at the close of the third two weeks he was missing.
Daily I waited his coining. At length I went on the street
I inquired for his name and the name of his Other's store,
when, to my utter astonishment, no such store or names
were found in the city. Here in a strange place, deserted,
ruined, and filled with shame, I had no heart to go to my
friends.'' Bhe had been here six months. I advised lier
not to remain in this house another twenty-four hours.
''But what shall I do? Mrs. Cassaday will lock me
up if she knows I am going to leave her. She called me a
Tool for giving you that quarter; she says those ("liris-
tians are down on us ; and if any of us should die, there
would n't one of them come to pray for ur. I told her I
believed you would." I told her to pack her trunk, an<'
188 A woman's LIF£-W0RK«
if she was clown town near the time fur the boat to
leave for Cleveland, to call a drayman to take her trunk
to the boat and follow it, if poesihle, before Mre. Cassaday
came in. I told her how to manage in going to her old
employer, and to tell her you were deceived by that young
man, but you found him untruthfuL *' Ab you say Mrs,
Cassaday kept you sewbg most of the time, you can tell
her you were employed most of the time in sewing ; but
do not, at present, tell her or your mcther of the life you
have livetl, and place of your residence while here." She
promised she would gladly take my advice, and leave for
Cleveland the first opportjnity. As we parted she leaned
her head upon ray shoulder, with fest dropping tears, and
said, **I shall always tluuik you for acting the part of a
mother in helping me away from this horrible place."
The following morning she called to leave word with Mrs.
Budc, that fortunately for her Mrs. Cassaday was out just
in time far her to call a drayman, that had just gone with,
her trunk to the boat, and she was now on her way to
Clevelaml, happier than she had been in six months, and
that she shoiiH do, in all respects, as I had advised. Here
was a beautiful girl decoyed and led from the paths of vir*
tuc by an artful, desiging, and licentious young man, who
basely sought her ruin by wiiming the afiections of an
innocent girl. Hundreds and thousands of these girls are
in like manner led astray, and might be saved if mothers
in Israel would take them by the hand of sympathy and
liflthem from the mire of this moral ix>Ilution.
At another time a refpicst was left with my hostess to go
to see a very sick woman, who was thought nigh unto death ;
but for a little ^rl that heard the request I should not have
received it She said, these poor white trash would curse
me in health, and when they thought they were going to •
die, they wore ready tlien to send for me to pray for them;
and, as I was tired enough to rest after teaching all day,
13 did not think I ought to go for their calls. I told her
VISITS OP MERCY. 189
if she would be so kind as to deliver all errands of that
eharacter I would be very thankful, and hastened to the
bedside of an old soldier of the cross, who, with her aged
companion, were visiting their children. She said she did
not expect to remain much longer in this world of check-
ered scenes; but her son had been here a short time
only, and had not formed any acquaintances among Chris-
tian people, and their hired girl said " she was passing yoiur
school-house one morning and heard you opening your
school with prayer, and I told her to find your boarding-
place, and leave word for you to come after your school
closed, as I wanted to hear the voice of prayer once more."
I read a chapter and ofiered prayer by her bedside. She
and her weeping husband and children thanked me for the
call, and desired me to call the day following, after school.
I found her somewhat improved, and. the next door neigh-
bor said Dutch Mary was in the adjoining room, and
seemed much affected, and said that was the first she heanl
read &om the Bible in seven years, and the first prayer
she had beard in that time, and she woidd be glad to see
me, but she would not disgrace me by coming to her
bouse. Then the woman told her she wotikl ask me to see
her in her room, and send for her when I came to sec tbc
sick woman.
I m^t her in great distress of mind. She told mc of
the wicked life she had spent during the last seven years
of her widowhood, and wanted to know if I thought there
iK'as any hope whatever for her. '* Do you think God can
forgive me? I have never so much as opened my Bible
that lies in the bottom of my chest all these seven years,
until yesterday I went home and took my Bible for the
first time to read in these years ; and I felt so condemned
after I read awhile that I laid it back, and did n't know
whether it was of any use; for I have lived such a
wretched life so long I doubt whether God can foi^ve me,
for I feci worse and worse. Do you believe he can?"
190 A woman's lifr-worr.
*' Certainly he is able to save to the uttermost It is
the eiilighteuing iufluenoe of God's Holy Spirit that is
showing you the exceeding sinfulness of sin."
I read tu her the readiness of the Lord Jesus to forgive
sin. '' How ready to bless tlie humble and contrite heart!
Only believe this with all thy heart, and the blood of
Jesus is sufficient to wash away every btain that sin has
made. Though they be as scarlet, he will make them
white as snow." We knelt together, and she too oflered
earnest prayer for strength to live the new life, which she
firmly resolved to da
I saw her a week later, and she said she informed those
men with whom she had committed those darkest of sins
of her firm resolution to live a virtuous life, and she locked
her door ; but they persisted in troubling her through the
night, threatening to tear her bouse down or bum it
*' Three nights I sufiered from them. But by constant
prayer, beUeviug God would take care of me, I was de-
livered from them. And I have plenty of washing, iron-
ing, and house-cleaning to do ; and I get along so much
better than I expected I could. I do want to go to meet-
ing ; but so many know of my wicked life I am afraid to
go inside of a church.''
I told her to go to whichever Church she felt meet at
home, and the Lord would open the way for her, and
enable her to bring up her little girl of eight years in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord.
At the close of my school I left this fiekl, so white to the
harvest, to enter, as I supposed, upon a field of home mis-
sious. At the expiration of a year I visited Toledo, and
inquired of one who occasionally employed Dutch Mary,
but knew nothing of my experience ^vith her, how she was
prospering. The cheering reply was, ** Spleixlidly ; I
have n't heard a disparaging word of her for months, and
there used to he hard stories about her." I heard she had
>ited with the Baptist Church, and I think she is trying
SAVED. 191
V to live a Christian. If she had not left town on a visit to
^ her frieuds I should liave seen her, but the re|x>rt I heard
of her was heart-cheering. >[ay God bless her, and all
who are receiving life-giving power who were dead iu
trespases and siu.
192 A woman'h life-work
Chapter VIII.
FUGirrVES IN CANADA.
While visiting friends in Detroit and Canada previous
to reopening Raisin Institute, as I designed, I was earnestly
solicited by Henry Bibb, Horace Hallack, and Bev. Chas.
C Foote, the committee authorised to employ a teacher,
to open a school in a new settlement of fugitives, eight
miles back of Windsor, where the Beftigee A sscwiation had
purchased government land, on long and easy terms, for
fugitive slaves.
They had erected a frame house for school and meeting
purposes. The settlers had built for themselves small log-
houses, and cleared from one to five acres each on their
heavily timbered land, and raised com, potatoes, and other
garden vegetables. A few had put in two and three acres
of wheat, and were doing well for their first year.
After prayerful consideration, I reached the conclumon
to defer for another y^r my home work, and enter this
new field.
/ In the Autumn of 1852 I opened school, and gave no-
tice that at eleven o'clock the following Sunday there
would be a Sabbathnschool for parents and chUdren, after
which a little time would be spent in other religious exer-
cises, pursuing the same course I did in Toledo, Ohio. This
drew a number of callers who had no children, to see if they
could come to my Sabbath-school ; and when I told them
it was for every body of any age who desired to come, my
school-house was filled to its utmost capacity. Many fre-
quently came five or six miles with their ox4eains to attend
these meetiiigs, with their families. Every man, woman,
and child who could read a verse in the Testament, cvcu
A HARRTAOE. 193
with assistance, took part in reading the lesson, and liberty
wns given to ask questions. It was not strange to listen
to many crude ideas; but a more earnest, truth -seeking
congregation we seldom find. An aged couple, past eighty,
missed very few Sabbaths during the year I spent there.
The man was a fugitive slave, and his companion was an
Indian woman, converted under the preaching of a mis-
sionary among the Indians. She had taken great pains to
talk and understand the English language, and was an
interesting woman.
As there was an increasing interest both in day and
Sabbath-schools, I gave liberty for all who wished to enjoy
a sort of class or inquiry meeting, following half au hour's
service for exhortation after Sabbath-school.
One couple desired a private interview with me, as they
had been married only after ''slave fashion.'' They said:
*' Jt is not right to live this way in a free country.
Now we wants you to marry us."
*' I am not legally authorized," I said ; '' but I will
send a note to brother Foote, and be will come at once and
marry you legally."
** We thought you preached, an' made notes for us, an'
could help us out in dis matter too."
Charles C. Foote came, and 'we called at their house at
the appointed time, with a few neighbors, to witness the
solemnization of the marriage that would have been ac-
complished three years before had they looked at these
things from the same stand-point they now did.
A few days aft^.r another couple came on the same er-
rand. Said this man:
'* We wants you an' Mr. Foote to marry us, case we 's
bin troubled 'bout dis many da3rs, case we wa' n't gwine to
let nobody know it; but God knows all 'bout us, an' now
we's free indeed, we wants every thing straight."
" But why do you put me with Mr. Foote," I asked,
" to marry-your
17
194 A woman'8 life- work.
** Did n't you an' Mr. Foote marry dat brother ao
sister week afore las'?"
" No ; only brother Foote."
" Brother Foote rc^ieated the questioos," they answered;
''then he pronounced them husband and wife; then they
were married according to law. But he axt you to pray
after he said dem words."
In all this ignorance they were like confiding grown-up
children, patiently listening to every explanation.
The unbounded confidence they placeil in me was sur-
prising; for they often brought their business papers for
me to examine, to see whether they were right. One man
brought me a note, as the employer could not pay him for
his work in money. He said it was a note for groceries ;
but the grocer refused to take it, and said it was not good.
I told him there was neither date nor name to it I wrote
the man a letter, asking him to rectify the mistake, which he
did; but he gave his employee credit for only half the days
he had worked. They were so often deceived and cheated
^in many waj-s. because of their extreme ignorance, that I
l^did not wonder at the conclusion one escaped fugitive had
reached. His master was a Presbyterian minister, but he had
known him to whip his sister, the cook, after coming home
from Church; and he said then he never would have &ith
in white folks' religion. Since coming to this colony he
watched me a long while before he made up his mind that
white people could have a pure religion. But now he be-
lieved ** that the Lord hid his Spirit in the hearts of white
people at the North ; but it was a make-believe in slave-
holders."
I was surprised one day to meet the mother of three
of my scholars, who gave her thrilling experience in her
escape from slavery; but she had little more than com-
menced her story before I found her to be one for whom
I Inid a plan with her sister, who had bought herself. As
^ named a circumstance, she exclumed in surprise, ''Why
PUGITIVBS LEARNING TO WHITE. 195
honey! is dis possible? God sent you here to lam my
gals to read, an' we did u*t know you," and tears began to
drop thicker and faster, as she recounted the blessings that
had multiplied since her arrival in Canada. She had in
the three years worked for a little home. Her two older
girls were at work, and they were all so happy in their
freedom.
These fugitives often came five or six miles for me to
write letters to their friends in the South, with whom they
left a secret arrangement very frequently with white peo-
ple who were tlieir friends, but secretly, for fear of the
ruling power, as were the disciples of Christ Avho feared
the Jews. Their notes, or articles of agreement, were gen-
erally brought to me to draft for them.
In six weeks of steady attendance fifteen young men
and women could read the second reader, and write a legi-
ble hand, and draft a negotiable note. I took a specimen
of a number of my scholars' hand-writing to an anti-slavery
convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, and left a few with the
Rev. John G. Fee, whose life had been threatened if he
did not desist from preaching a free gospel in his home
State — Kentucky. But the brave Cassius M. Clay told
him to go on, and he would go with him. He weut to
one place from whence he had received repeated threats,
and trouble was anticipated ; but Cassius walked into the
church by his side, and placed the Constitution of the
United States on the Bible, and over both his brace of
pistols, with which he informed the audience he should
protect free speech. At the same time he cast a glance at
the threatening group in a farther corner, who left one by
one, until the church was cleared of all but eager listeners.
Brother Fee said his object in requesting these specimens
of the fugitives writing was to exhibit to those who were
constantly asserting that negroes could not learn. He
wished them to see the legible hand-writing of those who
had only six weeks' training from their alphabet
190 A woman's ijfe-wobk.
After 8i>cn(ling a few dayrf vacation, I retumcil to the
toiliug day ami ui^ht iu my school. As there were twelve
heads of families auxious to read the Bible aud hymn-b(K)k,
and this seemed to be the height of their ambition, I
opened an evening school for that class. It was steadily
attended four evenings iu each week, and this, with one
evening devoted to prayer-meeting, filled the week, leav-
ing only one evening free ; aud frequently they .came with
their ox-teams to take me three miles to lead a prayer-
meeting for them iu an adjoining settlement
The Winter was quite severe, and I frequently was
awakened with the snow sifting iu my face, and not- un-
frcqueutly found the snow half an inch or more deep over
my bed on rising in the morning; but my health was
firm, and I often thought I never enjoyed a year of toil-
iug 1)ettcr than the one I S2)ent here.
There were iu this colony a mixed religious element —
Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Free-will Baptist —
deeply interested in Sabbath-schools and class-meetings,
o|)en to all who wished to enjoy them. Au organization
was proposed. The proi)Osition came from the Methodist
element, but I did not deem it wise to orgauize from any
one denominatiou, as divergent opiuions would create con-
troversy that would bring harm to many teuder minds.
(A)nsequeutly I proi)08ed to organize a Christian Union
Church, without disturbing the Church relationship of any
one. I prepared an extract from Gerrit Smith's concise
plan of organizing, on a liberal scale, a Christian Union
Church, with btit little change, and read it to them; and,
after a little discussion and explanation it was readily
adopted. I think the number of new converts was thir-
teen, who expressed a desire to be baptized by immersion.
J exhorted them to attend to their own religious impres-
sions, as I was uot there to present particular religious
tenets, but to present the crucified, risen, an<l glorified
Tior. Brother Foote came aud complied with their wish.
A SAD HISTORY. 197
I olofled my eveuiug schix)! two weeks to hold a series
of meetiugs, in which a youug Baptist brotlier a&isteil.
AVe all contiaued to work together for the highest good of
all around us. ^
I noticed a settled sadness in the countenance of a
young man of twenty-five years, recently fi*om Missouri.
During recess he took but little interest in any thing out-
side of his book or writing lesson. After attending my
school a few days he invited me to go to his boanl-
ing-place to spend the night, as he wished me to write a
letter for him. I found his history was a sad one. He
was sold from his wife and four little children to satisfy a
heavy debt. The master tried to reason with him, and
said the man he ow^ed would not take any of his slaves but
him. He called him aside to have further conversation
concerning the pro^xised sale; his wife presented herself
also to plead that they might not be separated. Both
knelt l)efore him, beseeching with tears to allow them to
remain together. Said he, '* I tole 'im I 'd serve 'im faith-
fully all the days of my life, if he'd only let us live
together; and he seemed to give way a little, and stiid he
did not want to sell me, as I was his foreman, and he
thought he would make other arrangements. I watched
him closely as I had but little confidence iu his wonis, and
armed myself with a dirk. One day he called me to go to
the woods with him, to show me the trees he wanted
clu»ppa1. As I was going I saw the end of a rope under
his ooat-skirt I kept at a reasonable distance all the way,
and when we came to the tree he wanted I should chop,
be attempted to come near me and I stood back ; then he
told me plainly I must yield. I said I never would per*
mit myself to leave my family, and, if he was so deter*
mined, I should never he (»f any use to any one, for life to
me was of no value if I am to ]ye taken from mv wife and
four little children. At this he, with the other man, w'
came out of the bushes, run towaixU mo, but I ov
198 A W034AN*S LIPE-WOKK.
them. About seven miles distant he overtook me with a
number of his slave men, and told me I had to give up.
I flourished my dirk and told them that I would kill the
first man that touched roe^or they should kill me. At this
they all stood back except the master himself. He flour-
ished his bowie-knife and I my dirk, for the space of a
few minutes, when he made a rush upon roe, and he met
my dirk before I met his bowie-knife. As he fell back I
ran for the woods. In the darkness of the night I made
my last visit to my wife and little children."
Here he became convulsed with weeping. When he
could command his feelings to pursue the sad story,
he said :
"Oh, that was an awful parting! The moment I en-
tered my wife's cabin she threw her arms around my neck,
exclaiming, 'Oh, my dear Bill, don't stay a minute, for
they say you've killed Master Riggs. They say he was
dyin' this evenin', and he 's dead afore this time, I reckon,
an' they swear vengeance on you. Some said they'd chop
you in pieces — some said they 'd bum you alive.' I told her
if God would help me to Canada I would write after awhile
to her father (he was free, having bought himself), and
may be he could manage to send her and our children to
me; and I tore her arms from my neck."
Again he was overcome with grief. I advised him not
to write at present. I never saw a more grief-stricken
man. He was boarding with Henry Bibb's mother, who
said she knew he was a man of deep trouble, "for he
looked so sad and groaned so much nights ; but I could n't
bear to ask him, because I thought it would be harder for
him to forget it." Ebtving been a slave herself, she could
easily anticipate the cause of his sadness. Notwithstand-
ing this, he made fair progress in reading, writing, and
arithmetic in one term. During this time vigorous efibrts
were put forth for his capture.
While I enjoyed my work so much with these people in
NEW ARRIVATA 199
the woodSy in schools, in meetings, and in their improve-
ments generally, I do not say I found with them perfection.
There were causes for reproof as well as of encourage-
ment. They made great effort to impto^ their homes by
taking trees from their woods to the saw-mills to be cut up
into boards for better floors than split logs, and for parti-
tions to make their little houses more comfortable. Per-
ha|is their improvements could not find better expression
than the report of one of our neighbors, in reply to an
inquiry of a friend in Detroit, as to how they were pros-
penug in their refugee colony. ** Fine, fine ; we've all come
to life, an' are in a strife to see who '11 make the bes'
house.''
Frequent arrivals of their friends from slavery often
produced much excitement At one time a company of
twenty-seven arrived, brought by John Fairfield, a Vir-
ginian. He often went into the heart of slave-holding
States and brought companies away, passing himself as
their owner until they reached a free State. He tele-
graphed some friends in Windsor, and a dinner of reception
was provided in one of the colored churches, and a great
jubilee meeting was held. One very old woman, between
eighty and ninety years old, shouted as she jumped around
among the people, '*I's young again. Glory! glory!
Jesus is our Master for evermore, honey," shaking hands
with the new-comers. " Glory to Jesus! I 's sixteen ;" and
she clapped her hands as she gave another leap. Said John
Fairfield, ''This pays me for all dangers I have faced in
bringing thb company, just to see these old friends meet."
Our young brother Campbell, the licentiate Baptbt
minister who had labored with us in our series of meetings a
few months previously, returned, and with the three Baptist
families in that community conceived the idea that as I was
soon to leave, they could organize a Baptist Church, and
induce nearly all in ihat colony to unite ; and they went
to work industriously to secure the individual consent o^
200 A woman's i.ife-work,
our Christian Uuion mcin1)ers; but the plan was, witli
one accord, rejected, exce2)t by our Baptist fnenils. Aa
they said nothing to me concerning it, each day brought
some complaints about their organizing a Baptist Church
''over our heads," as a number expressed themselves. But
I told them ''not to feel hurt over their desire to organi7ie
a Baptist Church. We will give way for them to occupy
half the time." Brother Maglothin, who had just come
with his family from Virginia, was an earnest Christian
man awl a licensed Wesleyan minister, and he was ready
to take my place in keeping up our Babbath-echools and
meetings.
\ Bev. N. P. Colver, of Detroit, had appointed the Sab-
bath to meet the friends in our school-house, for the pur-
pose of oi^nizing a Baptist Church and of ordaining brother
Campbell to take charge of it I told all of our people to
be sure and attend it with me. As I retired on the night
previous to the proposed meeting, I read the sweet promise
of the loving Savior, "I will be with you to the end," with
an assurance of entire trust.
The hour arrived, and our house was well filled, but
with many saddened faces. Brother Colver gave a short
discourse, and ordained brother Campl)ell, who was left in
charge of the Baptist branch of the little flock. At the close
of the exercises I remarked that I hoped we would all man-
ifest the same abiding interest in each other's spiritual and
temporal well-being as we had heretofore done ; that there
was a fair understanding between the brethren and sisters
that every other Sabbath was to be occupied by brother
^laglothin, thus alternating with brother Campl)el] ; and
as the next Sabbath would be my last for the present with
them, it would be my duty to explain the basis upon
which our Christian Union Church was organized. My
earnest and constant prayer was and ever would l)e,
whether present or absent, that the love of the Lord
Tesus Christ would ever dwell richly in each heart of his
CHURCH ORGANIZATION. 201
■
followers in that community, with whom I had spent a
year that I could class Avith the most pleasant of my life.
The following Sabbath found our house well filled.
After singing an appropriate hymn, and prayer, I read
1 Corinthians iii, with remarks; after which I read the
license from the Wesleyan Methodist Ck)nference, acknowl-
edging a qualiiScation to preach the Gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ. In it was granted liberty to organize a
comjmny of believers into a Church ; and I presented Qur
articles of agreement to build each other up in the unity
of the Spirit and in the bonds of peace, regardless of
name, in this '* Christian Union Church.'' To this we all
assented without a jar, and some of our Baptist brethren
present voted in favor.
At this their minister arose with an acknowledgment
that he had not understood the foundation of this organ-
ization before, and regretted very much what he had said
against it, and would ask pardon of all these brethren and
sisters and of myself. Before I had an opportunity to
reply their deacon and another followed, asking pardon
for what they had said, for now they saw the wrong. I
replied that if feelings had been hurt by whatever had
seemed unkind, tiiey were now healed by the same love
and unity that had so universally prevailed in our little
band, that had given courage and strength all through the
year. Here were sad faces brightened; and others fol-
lowed me, manifesting the healing power of love. The
Lord was in our minds reconciling to himself, and melting
away every apparent root of bitterness.
I left them again unite<l , but our little Baptist organ-
ization lived only till their fourth meeting. From their
o\Mi choice it was discontinued ; and, as the majority in
tlisit community were of Methodist proclivities, it has never
conscd to be of that family name, hemg a few months after
reorganized under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
202 A woman's life-work.
•
I had, previous to leaviDg this field, written to William
Aiidei*son's wife, Maria, directed to her father, and dated
iu Adrian, Michigan, and I instructed lctU.*rs from her to
he sent to that city iu my care. Soon after my return a
letter came from her fiitber, as William had directed. I
opened it, and found the very plausible plan of bringing
'William's wife and four children to him. Her father
wrote of the loss of his own wife; and as the size and
color of Maria answered to tlic description of bis own wife,
as recorded on his manumission papers, be projiosed to take
Maria and the children a few miles away in the night,
where tliey would be kept secreted until the excitement
of hunting for them was over, when be proposed to take
them a night's journey northward. By that time be boped
that be could travel openly, with his free papers. I re-
plied as William requested, in bis name, and forwarded
both the letter and a copy of my reply to him, with a re-
newed caution for him not to cross the Detroit River, as
it was possible that all these plans were devised by bis
enemies, instead of the fatber-in-Iaw and his wife. They
had desired bim to meet them on their way, and also in-
quired for names of places and persons who aided bim,
for the purjiosc of passing through safely to some point
where they could meet to part no more until death itself
should separate thcin. I wrote bim to wait patiently the
result, and not allow himself to become too much elated
over this plausible plan, for I hnd written " that there
were many friends who assisted him, whose names be had
forgotten, neither could he call to miml tlie names of the
many places be jmssed through, for he was taken from
place to place in haste. They, tof), would find no lack of
friends ; and if tbey brought his family to Adrian, Alicb-
igan, and inquired for Mrs. Laura 8. Haviland, a widow,
they would learn where be could be found."
Not many days elapse<l before the answer came in the
person of a Southerner, accompanied by Mr. Warren, of
WILLIAM ANDERSON. 203
Detroit, liritb my letter in his hand, and with the state-
ment that I would know the whereabouts of William
Anderson. He said his family had arrived in Detroit with
his wife*s father, and that they were in the family of a
colored minister by the name of Williauis.
I told him I was acquainted with the Williams family,
and was very glad to hear of the arrival of William An-
derson's fiimily, over whom he had been very anxious, and
inquired when they came.
• " Yesterday, about four o'clock," was the reply. "There
seems to be quite an interest in the family by the white
people. Mr. Hallack gave me five dollars to pay Will-
iam's fiure to Detroit to meet his family, as I volunteered
to come for him. And here 's a letter he sent to his
father-in-law; you can read for yourself."
I took it, and as I opened it recognized the letter I
wrote for him. " Yes, this is all right; it is the letter I
wrote for William."
Beginning to appear quite nervous, he said: "You see
in that there is a statement that you would know where
he's at work; and," taking out his watch, "I see we'll
have to hurry to get to Adrian by train time, and if you U
be so kind as to tell me where to find him, as 'they are
very anxiously waiting for us, I shall be obliged to you.
It would be a great disappointment if we should Ml to
reach Detroit when the next train goes in."
He walked to and fro across the room, first to the
door, then to the window, in a hurried, excited manner,
while I was purposely detaining him to see him tremble.*
I was quite satisfied that he was a bogus coin by the index
of his face. When I told him, at length, that he was
working in Chatham, Canada West, and that I wrote this
direction to avoid any possible scheme or plot to return
him to hopeless boiulagc, his face reddened and voice
trembled as he replied:
" I do n't know any thing about it, only what M^
204 A woman's like-work.
Hallack told me. That is every thing that I know in this
matter."
I tokl him what Mr. Hal lack had informed him was all
right, and he could tell him to send the family on the first
train from Windsor to Chatham, and they would meet
William there. He bowed, ''I thank you;" but looked
as if his words very much misrepresented him.
By the time he was out of sight I had my horse and
buggy ready, to follow him to Adrian, to telegraph Horace
^ Hallack and George De Baptist to forward a dispatch to
William Anderson, Chatham, Canada West, to leave that
city without an hour's delay, as I was satisfied his enemies
from Missouri were after him, and probably would take
him as a murderer. The telegram was sent, and he
obeyed its request.
Within two days my caller was there, inquiring for
William, and was told by a number that he had been at
work in town some time, but left a couple^ of days before,
but knew not wl>ere ho went After a few days' search
and inquiries in that town, he returned to Detroit, and
for the first time called on Horace Hallack to inform him
that he was in search of a colored man by the name of
William Anderson, who was a free man, that had ct)m-
mittc<l in the State of Missouri a cold-blooded murder of
a Baptist deacon, for the paltry sum of five dollars, and
he understood he had been quite recently in Chatham,
Canada, but had left that city. He would like advice as
to what course to pursue to ascertain his whereabouts.
Horace Hallack referred him to George Dc Baptist, who
was well acquainted with leading colored men in many
hx^alitics both in Canada and this side the river.
Our Missourian was now in good hands, as I followed
my despatch to them "with a long letter, giving William
Anderson's experience in detail. George De Baptist told
him if he had boon a slave, he would have taken every
*neasurc within his reach to protect him in his freedom.
ARREST DEF£AT£D. 205
But as he said he was always free, and such a high-handed
murderer as he represented, he would go just as far to
bring him to justice. "I will tell you what I will do; I
will write to an intelligent colored man in each of the
largest settlements of colored people, Chatham, Amhurst-
burg, and Sandwich, and will receive replies from each
within four days, and I will give you the result of their
inquiries." At the time appointed the Missourian returned
for tidings.
Said Greorge, " I have received answers from each let-
ter, and from Amhurstburg and Sandwich they write
they have known or heard nothing of a man by that name;
but the man to whom I wrote in Chatham has known all
about him, being well acquainted with him, and he writes
that William Anderson had been talking of going to Sault
St Marys, and that he left two weeks ago, rather mys-
teriously, without telling him or any any one else where
he was going; but the greater probability was he went
there.''
He gave the letters to him to read for himself. Con-
sequently he hired Mr. Warren and another man, and
took the trip to Sault St Marys, where he spent a week
inquiring for William Anderson ; but he &iled to get the
least clew to his whereabouts, and returned to Detroit.
He left a power of attorney with his friend Warren to ar-
rest him in case he could be decoyed over the Detroit
river; if that plan did not succeed, he was to telegraph
him if he found his whereabouts in Canada. If these
plans failed, he left directions to arrest me with a United
States warrant. But about the time I was to have been
arrested Mr. Warren, the man who was empowered to ar-
rest me, died with cholera — a singular coincidence. Mr.
Warren's brother expressed deep sorrow and regret to find
the papers gmutiug legal authority to transact such busi-
ness in his brother's possession at the time of his death.
He allowed George De Baptist to see them 1)efore they
206 A avoman's likk-wouk.
were destroyed. This was the second time cholera defeated
my arrest.
Pursuit was still continued for William Anderson.
Three years after I fell in company with D. L. Ward, at-
torney of New Orleans, in a stage between Ypsilanti and
Clinton, Michigan. He was making some complaints
about the North, which drew forth a few remarks from
me. '' Oh, I am glad I 've got hold of an abolitionist. It
is just what I have wished for ever since I left my homo
in New Orleans. Now I want to give you a little advice,
and, as it will cost you nothing, you may accept it freely,
and I hope you will profit by it; and that b, when you
abolitionists have another Sims case, call on Southern legal
gentlemen, and we will help you through. We would
have cleared Sims, for that Fugitive-slave Law is defec-
tive, and we know it, and we know just how to handle it.''
"Why did you introduce a defective bill?"
'^ Because we made up our minds to bring you North-
erners to our terms, whether it was constitutional or not,
and we have done it, because we knew we could do it ;
not because we cared for a few niggers; for I say, if a nig-
ger cares enough for freedom to run for it, he ought to
have it Now we knew that was an unconstitutional thing
before we put.it before Congress; but we put it there to
let you know we could drive it down Northern throats,
and we did it, too."
" I acknowledge," I replied, " that there is too much
servility in our North ; there is too much crouching and
cringing, but I am prepared to say there are more than
seven thousand that have never bowed the knee to your
Baal of slavery, and never will. We never shall do hom-
age to your Southern goddess, though you may cry loud
and long in demanding its worship. You say if we have
another slave case, if we come to you to help us through,
you will do it, and that if a slave wants his freedom bad
^nough to run for it, you think he ought to have it?"
LETTER TO LORD ELGIN. 207
" Yes, madam, we will aid you, for we know just how
to handle that thing."
'* Supposing a man is about to be sold from his family,
and he &Ils at his master's feet, and pleads in tears to re-
main with his fiimily, and promises to serve him &ithfully
all the days of his life, if he will only permit them to re-
main together; but the master persists in the sale; the
slave makes his escape; is overtaken by his master, yet,
severely wounding him, he succeeds in gaining his liberty.
Now what do you say in regard to this supposed case?"
Looking me full in the &ce, he asked my name,
which was given. Said he, '*I think I am acquainted
with that case. Is it not William Anderson, a runaway
from Missouri?"
'^ William Anderson's case is very similar to the one I
have described."
** Oh yes, madam, and you are implicated in that af-
&ir, but as you are a lady I will not disturb you ; but
you are liable to great difficulty in that case, and I will
tell you we are going to have Anderson by hook or by
crook ; we will have him by fair means or foul ; the South
is determined to have that man, and you 11 find your
House of Refuge will not protect him cither."
" This is the way I perceive you Southern legal gentle-
men will help us. But you will never get Anderson from
Canada. Your determination will fail."
** We shall not &il, but I will tell you after I return
from our fiUibustering tour, as we are going out next
month. We are confident of success in that, too, for our
fleet is in good condition. We shall then take Anderson,
if not before, and let you see how much your House of
Befiige will do to hold that man from the South."
I never heard from D. L. Ward from that day. I hod
written previous to this interview to the governor-general.
Lord Elgin, of the first effort to retake him as a murtlerer.
He replied that, "in case of a demand for William Ander
J
208 A woman's ijfe-work.
son, he should require the case to be tried in their British
court ; aud if twelve freeholders should testify that he had
been a man of integrity since his arrival in their dominion,
it should clear him." This'iuformation, however, I did not
reveal to our Southern lawyer.
Three years later, in which time I had succeeded in fin-
-' ishing my Raisin Institute building, and reopened the insti-
tution in charge of a principal from Oberlin College, the
sad tidings reached me that William Anderson was lodged
in jail in the city of Toronto, under charge of murder com-
mitted in the State of Missouri. He was awaiting his trial,
and Gerrit Smith was one of his legal advisers. I wrote
immediately informing him of the previous efforts to search
out his whereabouts, and that his pursuers at that date
(1853) alleged that he was a free man, and had never been
a slave. In reply, Gerrit Smith wrote :
*' I am glad you have given me so much of his history.
Poor Anderson ! I visited him in jail. I will send you my
speech in his behalf. I hope the friends will purchase his
&mily. I have volunteered to do all I can for the poor
man. Lord Elgin is removed ; the present governor-gen-
eral is a stranger to this case. God bless you.
** I am truly your friend, Gerrit SMrrn."
A few days later, I received the thrilling sjjeech of Ger-
rit Smith, like the man, full of pure and soul -inspiring
thought ; but I trembled with fear when two of the three
judges were in favor of returning William Anderson to the
State of Missouri, and that Biggs the claimant was liable
to succeed ; but through the efforts of his friends, and the
opposing judge, the case was appealed to a higher court,
and William Anderson was sent to England, where he re-
mained in safety until the war opened, in which time the
case was adjusted in his favor. The Missouri agent, Kiggs,
failed, and the friends of liberty rejoiced.
Three young men fled from Daniel Payne, Kentucky,
and succeeded in reaching Canada, where they had proven
CRUEIiTY REQUITED. 209
themselves worthy of their hard-earned freedom. A few
months elapsed, and their master came for them, and tried
to hire them to go back with him, promising to make over
to them manumission papers as soon as they returned. But
he failed to inspire Alfred and his two brothers with confi-'
dence in his promise of freedom and fair wages for their
work. He then secured the aid of a colored man to invite
them to a dancing party in Detroit a few days after, but
the boys mistrusted that their old master had the handling
of this invitation, and did not accept it.
As they had been annoyed two weeks by the various
plans of " Master Dan Payne," they concluded the next
time he gave them a call to appear more social, and gave
their plan to forty or fifty of their friends, who were to lie
in ambush near the old barracks, where one of the brothers
was to have a chiH, and appear too sick to go over the
river. But two days passed before the opportunity arrived
that enabled them to carry out their plan. When Alfred
informed the ex-master of the illness of his brother, of
course he must hasten to the sick boy with a nice brandy-
sling for the chills, and he purchased a good quantity for
them all. While he was handing a glass of sweetened
brandy to the sick man, a company of men rushed in and
held him, while Alfred and two brothers stripped him of
his coat, vest, boots, socks, and pants, and tied him with
a rope in the same way the master had tied their mother,
when he compelled her to be stripped, and tied her with
his own hands, and whipped her until the blood ran to the
ground. Alfred and his brothers applied dexterously the
slave-whip, which they had provided for the occasion by
borrowing a plantation slave -whip kept by Henry Bibb
as a reminder of his slave life. Daniel Payne begged
heartily for mercy. Alfred replied: " Yes, this is just the
way my mother begged for mercy; but you had no mercy
for her, and this is to show what she recoeived at your
cruel hands." They applied the lash until the forty »tri|)es
18
210 A woman's life-work. ,
i
their mother had received at his hands had been given.
Then they unbjund him and gave him fifteen minutes to
dress and leave Canada, and gave him a quarter to go
%vith, keeping his watch and purse, which contained about
forty dollars. He crossed the river within the given time,
and sent an agent to call on the authorities, to whom he j
entered a complaint of being robbed of a gold watch and ^
one hundred dollars, but made no complaint of the whip-
ping. He affected to be toe lame "with rheumatism" to
return to hxs Kentucky home for a number of days, in
which time the boys returned his watch, but kept the
money. Alfred and his brothers said Mr. Payne was as j
untruthM about the amount of money as he was in call- |
iug his old silver watch gold. Suffice it to say, the young
men were never after troubled or annoyed by Daniel Payne,
of Kentucky. Although it was a course I would never ,
have inaugurated, yet it was largely in human nature to
requite the cruelties heaped upon their mother when it was
beyond their power to protect her.
With very many pleasant remembrances, I left this la-
borious field of labor for home work, where I spent nearly
three years looking after the best interests of my children,
and making preparations to r&open Raisin Institute, for
the moral 9 intellectual, and spiritual improvement of our
youth.
i
SIX ESCAPING SLAVES. 211
Chapter IX.
RESCUE OF SLAVES.
A FAMILY of six left their old Kentucky homo in search
of freedom. A youug wife who was sold had made her
escape three years previously. I noticed a stranger pass-
ing through my gate, and as he was a mulatto, I went out
to see where he had gone. I found him sitting in the
porch, waiting to see some one of whom to inquire whether
he was at the right place. He handed a paper directed
to me by an under-ground railroad ticket agent, who in-
formed me there were six fugitives in his company. ''Then
there are six of you?" I asked; "and where are the bal-
ance?" "My two brothers are back a-ways," he replied,
" 'cause we 's feared it was n't the right place."
Being assured all was right, he went back for them.
They had left their mother, with her two little grandchil-
dren, in Carthaginia, until the boys could find a safe homo
for them, but they knew not whether they should go on
to Canada or find the object of their search short of that
place. They heard in Carthaginia that Michigan was the last
place she had been heard from, and that was a short time
after passing through that town. They were directed to me
as being most likely to know the whereabouts of the young
wife. They had been in my home a number of hour^ be-
fore the elder brother dared make the inquiry. I noticed
the frequent heavy sigh and sad countenance, and I thought
he was probably very anxious over the safety of his mother,
and I assured him that she was in good hands, for I knew
them to be true friends. While he assented, yet all mv
words of encouragement did not seem to cheer him, wb'
the two younger brothers were happy. I went throv
212 A woman's LIFE-WOPvK.
my usual course of giving them new names. As they left
that entirely ^vith me, I gave as the family name Ross,
and their given names Benjamin, Bichard, and Daniel.
But I came to the conclusion that the older brother was
troubled over some friends he had left behind. At length,
in a half hesitating and trembling manner, he ventured to
ask if I knew any thing of a colored girl by the name of
Mary Todd.
"Certainly I do," said I; "and did you know her?"
" Yes, ma'am," was his reply.
"Do you know whether her husband was sold? Slic
worried a great deal about him."
" No, they talked of selling him lately." Then, after
a pause, " She is n't married again, is she?"
"Why, no, she is a very steady, nice young woman.
Every one in the neighborhood where she live^ takes a
great interest in her. Perhaps you are acquainted with
her husband; why don't he come? He promised to fol-
low her as soon as he could."
While his countenance lit up with joy, I had no sus-
picion of who he was until he said, " I am the man. ' I
am her husband."
" Why did n't you tell me that before?"
" I was 'fraid of bad news if I got any."
" Afraid she was married?"
" Well, it 's been mighty nigh three years, an' I could n't
go for a long time off the plantation, after she left."
As she was twelve miles from our school, and by this
time it was nearly night, I hastened to inform brother
Canfield, a Wesleyan mim'ster, that the older brother of
these fugitives was Mary Todd's husband. "Is it possi"
ble," he asked, "that Mary's husband has come at last?"
Soon, quite an excitement was produced in our neigh-
borhood over the arrival of Mary Todd's husband. The
next morning brother Canfield took him in his buggy to
'ncct his wife and little son he had never seen ; and a time
SUPPOSING A CASK. 213
of great rejoicing was in tbe whole neighborhood. As
they were married after slave style, brother Caniield sol-
emnized the marriage legally. The minister said we all
forgot the black skin, when we saw that couple fly to each'
other's arms. Surely,
" Skins may differ, but affection
Dwells in black and white the same."
Mary had lived most of the time in the &mily of Fitch
Reed, of Cambridge. They soon had a home for their
mother, with her two little granddaughters, and were all
happy, industrious, and highly respected.
One of the common trials of life, to mar our happiness
in our family-like institution (February 23d) was the list^
less waywardness of some of our dear students, in a deter-
mined purpose to attend a dancing party under the guise
of an oyster supper. How many delusive snares are laid
to entrap and turn aside the youth into divergent paths.
We found it necessary to suspend eight of our students for
the remainder of the term. It is a painful duty of the
surgeon to amputate a limb, yet it may be an imperative
duty, in order to save the life of the patient, and restore
the body to health.
This evening a very remarkable fugitive slave came
from Tennessee. He had been five weeks on the way, in
which time he had slept but one night, having traveled at
night and buried himself in hay and straw in bams in the
day-time to keep from perishing with cold, and to avoid
detection. He says six years ago his wife and child were
sold from him, which caused him days and nights of bitter
tears. He then firmly resolved to make an attempt to
gain his freedom by flight He was captured in Illinois
after a severe struggle. He showed us four pistol-ball
holes in the arm he was most dextrously using in his own
defense, and two large scars which he said were gashep
made at the same time with a Bowic-kiiife, Avhich enable
214 A woman's life-wobk.
his enemies to eaptare him. After they secured him in
jail he was advertised in papers, which his master saw,
and came alid took him hack, and caused him to be
whipped on the bare back until the flesh was so badlj
torn that he was compeUed to lie on his stomach four
weeks. During this time he was not able to turn himself.
After recovering his master put him in the iron works, of
which he was proprietor. ''If I hadn't been one of his
engineers he would have sold me instead of giving me that
awful whipping that he thought conquered me; but he was
mightily mistaken; for it only imbedded in my heart a
more bitter hate than ever. I appeared contented and
performed my work well. After a few montlis, he said
one day, 'I've made you a good boy, Jim, and now I'll
let you go to the big city with me.' I was very obe-
dient, but he little knew of my determination to leave him
as soon as I could make sure work of it. That is the
reason I would not moke friends with white people till I
found Michigan, for we have heard that people in this
State are friendly to us, and that it is next to Canada."
As this man was above mediocrity as to intelligence,
his two days' stay with us had a salutary influence over
our school. He could not be prevailed upon to rest longer,
as he could not be easy until he reached Victoria's domin-
ions. His clothes were made comfortable, and I called on
a few friends for a little pocket change, and sent by him a
little note to the next station, where he was aided on to
Canada.
Our Spring term opened with &ir prospects. A number
of our students who were suspended last term returned to
us, they said, to redeem themselves, and they were as good
as their word.
During our long vacation I attended an anti-slavery
convention in Cincinnati, where I met a white slave man
im Little Rock, Arkansas, who left his home in the night
' by morning took public conveyance as any other white
A WHITE SLAVE. 215
man would. On reaching Cincinnati he found friends of
the slave to whom he revealed his condition. Levi Coffin
advised him to go with me to Michigan. As he was in
greater haste than I was, he proposed to go on at once.
Consequently I wrote a letter of introduction to mj friends,
requesting them to furnish him with work. In two weeks
I returned and found my young friend, Charles McCIain,
(for that was the name I gave him in Cincinnati) at work
with a friend, who said it was a pity that I had introduced
him as a fugitive slave, for they would not have believed
it if the statement had not come from me.
He came to our school and improved very much upon
what he had picked up from the white children who were
going to school, and by the aid of a colored minister who
could read and write, and by that means could read in the
second reader and write a little. He was often seen in
tears, and was very anxious to have his sister with him,
who was as white as himself and, like him, had straight
auburn hair, blue eyes, and perfect Caucasian features,
without a vestige of African descent that could be detected.
A deep sympathy was enlisted in his behalf. He was very
anxious to convey intelligence to that sister of the ease
with which he effected his escape, and that she too could
free herself as easily. A number of the friends offered to
aid, and one friend placed thirty dollars in my hands to
bring about this result. I wrote to a colored minister in
Little Bock, who replied, with a graphic account of their
rejoicmg at his success, and of his sister Ann's anxiety to
come to him, but that she had no means. Charles wrote
to her that he would send means with instructions. As I
had for many years had a great desire to see more of the
system of slavery in its own territory, as so many people
of the North were insisting upon our exaggerations, and
that we were judging the majority of slave-holders by the
few unprincipled men we had seen, I concluded to become
the bearer of this message.
216 A woman's life-work.
With a well-defioed plan of the streets and houses I
left my home, in confidence that the God of Daniel would
return me unharmed. After «i little visit with my dear
friends, Levi and Catharine Coffin, in Cincinnati, I resumed
my journey. I felt a little disappointed at the leaving of
a through boat an hour earlier than reported. Levi said,
** Perhaps thou 'It find it's all for the best," and so it was.
For the second day after leaving Cincinnati the vessel was
burned and sunk, with great loss of property, and many
of the passengers were seriously injured, and some fatally.
As I soon after passed the wreck of partially burned
furniture floating near the shore, and some hauled out
lying on the bank, I was thankful for the disappointment.
At Napoleon I left the boat for another to go up the
Arkansas river, and waited at the best hotel in the place,
kept by the widow Eeeves. She was probably a fair speci-
men of Southern women. The appearance of the people
made me feel as if I was out of these United States. There
was quite a company waiting to go up or down the river.
Among them were six or eight young people — Colonel
Thompson with his son and daughter, whom he was taking
home from their school in Helena, Arkansas, and a young
Dr. Jackson, who was very talkative and filled to over-
flowing with afiectation. With a twirl of his little cane,
and half-bent bow, in a simpering manner he addressed
the four young ladies sitting on the sofa before him:
"How did you rest last night, ladies?"
" Quite well, I thank you."
"Indeed, I am very happy to hear it, for I did not
I was dreaming all night of shooting and stabbing, and I
had an awful time. I suppose it was owing to the awful
time we had when I was here last over a nigger fight, or
rather a fight over a nigger. It seems he had started to
run away and they overtook him here, and he fought like
a tiger. He had armed Iiimself with a si^-shooter, and I
11 you he made the bullets fly lively, and they shot hiju
ON THE ARKANSAS RIVER. 217
before they could catch him. He shot one man dead and
^-wounded two or three others, and I was called upon to
extract a ball from the shoulder of one man."
During this conversation, and much more not recorded,
I YfBS writing a letter home, directed to a friend in Cov-
ington, Kentucky. There wvls an understanding, while in
Cincinnati, that Levi Coffin was to take my letters from
our Covington friends, and mail them home.
To my great relief, the small boat, " Bough and Heady,"
came in, and was to leave for Indian Territory, up the
Arkansas River, in two hours ; but a large boat was going
up the next day. I went on both to see what they were,
and I found the large boat looked more like an old slaver
than a civilized craft, and made my choice without making
known the reason. There was in the hotel an old lady
going on the large boat, and she urged me to accom'})any
her, and a young woman was going on the ** Bough and
Beady," who was anxious I should go with her, as she was
alone, and going to her mother in Little Bock. The old
lady said she was alone, and was going to her daughter,
and asked Mrs. Beeves to intercede in her behalf. '^ Now,
Mrs. Smith, I'll make a bargain with you. There is a
rich widower on the big boat, and he 's got lots of niggers
and 'money. Ill give him to you if you'll go on that
boat; and, I tell you, he's rich as Croesus." I had to en-
ter somewhat into these familiarities, and told her I would
not think of being so selfish as to take him from her.
I finished my letter-writing, and her Pomp was told to
take my satchel to the boat with the young woman.
There were Colonel Thompson and son and daughter, who
made themselves quite too familiar to be comfortable. I
soon noticed the captain seemed quite disconcerted, and made
many excuses. His cabin help were set to cleaning and
setting things in order, and his cook sent ashore fur nuts,
candies, and fruits. Wo hardly had started when Colonel
19
218 A woman's life-work.
Thompson cliarged me with being a repbrter for some pe-
nodical. I assured him of his mistake.
Said he, *' I knew you were a reporter; and when Mrs.
Beeves was urging so persistently to have a dance, I whis-
pered to my young folks not to have any thing to do with
ity for you 'd have us all in some newspaper."
I told him I was writing a letter to my folks.
Said he, '' You need not think you are going to fool us
in that way. I saw you write a few minutes, then stop,
and listen awhile to Dr. Jackson and those young ladies,
and then write again, then stop to listen to Mrs. Beeves,
and then write again. I told my children they could see
you had five or six pages for some paper; and you can
never make me believe that was all for a letter. Now, if
you will answer one question 1 11 release you. Have n't
you written an article for a paper some timef
I heatated, for the next query would be, What paper?
At length I thought of the note of correction I wrote for
the Louisville Courier^ while in that city, in behalf of
Calvin Fairbanks, while he was there in prison. I finally
told him I would not say I had never written any thing
for a paper.
" Now, if you will pardon me, just one more question,
and if you will answer that I will be as good as my word,
and trouble you no more on that score. What paper
have you written for? I would like to know whether it
was a Helena paper or any one in our State."
"No, not in this State," said I; "I did write a little
card for the Louisville Courier J*
**Ah, yes, that's it; that is a good Democratic paper.
I am acquainted with the editor. I knew you were trying
to cheat us all the while. I wish you would write an arti-
cle for the Little Bock Democrat, If you will I will send
the editor a letter of introduction ; and I know he will pay
you well for it."
AT J.ITTI.K IWX^K. 219
But I declined, and was very much relieved when the
Thompson family reached their home in Pine Bluff. Here
I saw their slaves come to meet them for their baggage.
They uxged me to stop with them and spend a week or
two, and they would take me out into the country to see
some beautiful plantations, as they had an excellent car-
riage-driver. The young woman said: "Pa has owned
him a number of years, and could always risk us with him
anywhere. Our plantation is not a very large one, as pa
has always had a store on his hands ; but there are some
very large and beautiful ones beyond us."
A sense of relief came over me as I saw them leave
the boaty and avc were the next day landed in Little Rock.
Being after dark, I spent the night at the Anthony House.
Before sunrise I was at the house of our friends, who were
greatly rejoiced, and sent for the minister, with whom we
consulted. After making all necessary arrangements, with
the signs fixed upon whereby I might understand when
the expected boat would arrive, whether any unfavorable
indications were noticed, etc., I inquired for a private and
convenient boarding-house, where I could remain a few
days waiting for tidings from a through boat. The family
they named happened to be where the young woman who
came on the same boat with me was boarding, with her
mother and brother-in-law, who was keeping a tailor's
shop. I inquired of this young woman and her mother
if they thought I could secure board there a few days,
while waiting' for tidings from a brother. They thought
I^Irs. Shears might not have a convenient room for me, but
they would be glad to have me in their room. Soon the
matter was settled. The son-in-law brought in sewing for
his mother and sister-in-law, and I made myself useful by
assisting them. The mother, Mrs. Springer, had a nice
shally dress for me to make, that she said she could n't
have got made to suit her as well for eight dollars; and
urged me quite hard to go in with herself and daughter
220 A WOMAN^S LIFE-WORK.
in o|)ening a shop for dress-making. I also did some sew-
ing for Mrs. Shears, .who also became quite social.
Mrs. Shears was very cruel to her slaves, and com-
plained of the indolence of Jack, a boy of twelve years.
** But I haven't got him fairly broke in yet.'; Don't you
think, after I jiaid eight hundred dollars in gold for that
nigger, and set him to shell a barrel of com, he spent all
that day in doing nothing? I was just ready to go away,
when a nigger-drover brought a few he had left, and said
he 'd sell cheap, as it was the last he had on hand. He
wanted nine hundred ; but I told him I 'd give him eight
hundred in gold, and at last he concluded to take it
Well, as I told you, I set him to shelling on that barrel
of com, and I do n't s'pose he shelled a dozen ears after I
was gone. Don't you think, that nigger spent all that
day in bawling after his mother — a great booby, twelve
years old! He might have some sense in his head. I
gave him one dressing, to begin with ; for I found he 'd
got to know who was master. I 've had him six weeks,
and he is n't hardly broke in yet."
Poor motherless child! No doubt she too wept bitterly
over the scpamtion ; but no word of pity, or even a sigh
df sympathy, must be allowed here. I must listen to this,
and a great deal more, with stoical indifference.
As Mrs. Shears had more company than usual, she
came to me one evening, and asked if I would take her
daughter's bed in her room, shielded with curtains, for the
night This was satisfactory to me. The following morn-
ing, at gray dawn, the two little boys, Jack and Jim,
came in with fire from the kitchen, with kindling. The
mistress rolled out of bed, and took her heavy-heeled shoe,
dealing blows upon their heads and shoulders, and said:
** How come you niggers till this time o* day in here
to build fires?"
"Aimt Winnie didn't wake us."
''I'll wake you up; here almost daylight, and not a
CUITKL AVHIPPIXCJ. 221
fire built yet, wlien tliese four fires ought to have been
built an hour ago. And didn't wake up, ha? I'll teach
you to wake up."
And 80 she kept up the heavy blows, chasing them
round and round the chairs, and the boys crying, *^ I will
get up early, missus ; I will get up early," till it seemed
to me an unreasonable punishment
Just as the two fires were going, and the little fellows
went to light the other two, the son, Joe Shears, came in.
" What are these niggers about, that these fires are not
all going long ago?"
''O, they had to sleep this momin'; they say Aunt
Winnie did n't wake 'em."
"I'll wake the young devils; I'll see whether they 11
sleep till broad daylight. It 's their business to have these
fires going an hour ago '/* and out he went
At breakfast, I noticed Jim, the waiter, was missing,
and Jack was not at his wood-chopping as usual. Soon
after, as I passed through the rear porch, I saw the two
little boys hanging, as I supposed, by their wrists, to a
pok over the bay in the barn. The door was just opened
by Joe Shears, to commence his day's work of whipping,
as I soon heard the cries of one, then the other, alternat-
ing in stripes heard with their cries, by spells, until noon.
During this time Joe Shears was sitting before the fire,
playing cards and sipping his brandy between the whip-
pings. Whenever he was out the whipping and cries
were heard.
At noon little Jim was let down, very hoarse from
cr}dng, and his eyes red and swollen. By his walk I knew
tlie little fellow had sufiei*ed intensely. But the little
wo(Ml-chopper was not at his post. Soon after dinner the
lash was again heard, with the hoarse cry of little Jack;
and each time Joe iShears sat down to his card-table I
looked for Jack, but after a game or two of cards he was
out again, and the lasb and cries resunie<l. I Ix^came so
222 A woman's lib'e-wouk.
distressed that at four o'clock I took a walk on the street,
ostensibly to rest by exercise after a day of semng, but ,
really to give vent to tears that had been all day pent up,
'for all appearance of sympathy must here be restrained.
On my return I heard the battling of the paddle, with the
cries of poor Jack, so hoarse that I could hardly have ^
recognized it as a human voice had I not known what it
was. I got no glimi)se of the poor child until the next -
morning.
As the tailor, Joseph Brink , came in , the sister-in-law said,
'* We ought to have a lamp or candle lit before this time.''
Said the mother, '* We do n't feel half thankful enough v
for this grate-fire. Just think, Joe Shears has been whip-
ping those two little boys all this blessed day, and I should
think they must be half dead to-night"
" What have they done?" said Joseph.
** I do n't know ; do you, Mrs. Smith?"
''Yes; you know I slept in Mrs. Shears's room lost
night ; and the boys came in at nearly daylight with their
])an of fire and kindling, and the mistress wanted to know
why their fires were not all built before, and they said '
Aunt Winnie did n't wake them. And she whipped them
with her shoe quite a while ; then Joe Shears came in, and
swore at them, and said he would wake them."
** And that was it? Only think," said Mrs. Springer;
** you know Aunt Winnie was sick yesterday. And just
because they had n't these fires all built before daylight
they 've had them tied up in the bam all day ; that cow-
hide Mrs. Shears keeps hung on her door-knob her Joe
has swung over those two little niggers all day. I tell
you, if the devil don't catch such people there's no use
of having a devil."
Her son-in-law, in an undertone, said, "Be careful;
do n't talk so loud, or it will make a fuss here."
" Well, I do n't care, I am mad. I tell you, Joe, hell
lined thb very minute with just such folks as these."
NEGRO BOY KILLED. 223
" Well, I think they are more cruel here than they are
in Georgia."
*' I Ve seen just such work in (xeorgia and in Alabama,
and it's all over. I tell you, there 's more in hell to-night
for treating niggers this way than for all other sins put
together, and I know it"
^'Be careful; they U hear you, and it will make
trouble. It's their property; it's none of ours."
"I don't care for that; they are human beings, and ^
have feelings as well as other folks. There's that little
iiigger. Bob, they 've tired of Dr. Webb, down street ;
tbey whip him and pound him about, and they 'U kill him
some day. And I think somebody ought to report to Dr.
Webb how they are treating that young nigger. He is a
mighty nice-looking boy. He is almost white, and they've
got him all scarred up."
'' Well, what of that? The doctor himself is no better.
About three months ago his boy Tom was throwing wood
in his cellar, and he did something he didn't like, and he
kicked hin^ down the cellar, then jumped down after him
and took a billet of wood and was pounding Tom over his
head when two white men were passing by and saw the
whole afiair; and as Tom fell the doctor came up out of
the cellar and went down town and reported his Tom had
a fit. But the two men went into the cellar after the
doctor left and found him dead and his skull broken in.
Tbey reported what they saw and had a coroner's inquest
over him, who found that Tom came to his death by too
severe punishment. They arrested the doctor and put him
in jail a few days, when his trial came off. The doctor was
fined five hundred dollars, and he paid it and went free."
"Yes, that is the doctor we've been sewing for, is it?"
•* Certainly."
"I tell you, hell is heaped with just such people."
Bhe went on in that strain that reminded me of St.
CSair's '^cursing up hill aud down" that almost frightens
224 A woman's life-work.
the New Eogland old maid of ** Uncle Tom's Cabin." I
trembled myself, expecting every moment that some mem-
ber of the family would hear her.
Two days later was washing-day, and the cook, Aunt
Winnie, told her mistress she was too sick to do the very
large washing for three boarders besides the family. I
heard the mistress cursing her, and telling her she could
if she had a mind to, and charged her with being ktzy.
In came her son Joe. '* What's all this fuss?"
"O, it's Winnie says she's sick and can't do the wash-
ing this week."
''Sick! I'll see how sick she is," and he took up 41
billet of stovewood and commenced beating her over her
head and shoulders, and swearing that he would give her
something to be sick for. Mrs, Springer called my atten-
tion to the quarrel of Mrs. Shears with her cook before
Joe Shears came in. Then said she, ** Poor Aunt Winnie
will catch it now, I'll warrant. There, just hear those
blows; they sound like beating the table; he'll kill her."
And table, stools, and tin-pans or pails made racket enough
for the whole kitchen to be falling down. The struggle
with a volley of oaths lasted a few minutes.
Mrs. Springer, up to boiling rage again, ''Hear that;
what devils they are ; do n't you believe Aunt Winnie will
die? Why, I can't hold still." In as careless a manner as
I could command I said, "We can do no good by saying
any thing. You know what your son said the other night."
"I know it; but there isn't a particle of humanity
about them. I feel as if I want to pitch into the whole
Shears family." Soon all was quiet.
"I believe Aunt Winnie is dead, don't you?"
"I think not."
" I am going in there to see."
As she got up to go to the kitchen she took the pitcher
for water. While she was pumping the water near the
'*<;hen-d()or, Aunt Winnie staggered to the door trying to
AUNT WINNIE^S DRESS. 225
wind a cloth around her bleeding head, and one eye was
swollen shut. As she came in and reported how badly
she was bruised up, she wanted me to take the pitcher and
go to the pump for water; but I told her I would wait a
little, for they might think we went on purpose to see
Winnie.
''Poor thing, I know she came to the door on purpose
to let me see her." And Mrs. Springer could not rest
satisfied until I drew the next piteher of water, when the
poor woman reeled to the door with her hand on her head
and the cloth around it saturated with blood. I could
not sleep a wink after the day of the unmerciful whipping
of those two little boys. Again the night after this unmer-
ciful beating of this poor woman was spent in weeping,
and prayer to Him who hears the cries of his oppressed
children.
A few days aft;er Aunt Winnie came to Mrs. Springer
and asked her if she would cut and make a green delaine
saoque for her, and cut a calico skirt, as she could make
that iu the night, and charged her not to let her mistress
see it or let her know she had it, because her husband got
it for her and gave her seventy-five cents to get Mrs.
Springer to cut it; ''for he is going to take me away
three weeks from next Saturday night, 'cause the people
are so hard here; he says I shan't stay here any longer."
"I am so sorry for her, I told her to come in when her
mistress and Joe Shears's wife are away making calls, and I
would take her measure and cut and baste it: then for her
to come in aft^r they are all in bed and I would fit it and
make it any time, keeping it. under a sheet I've got to
make, and in that way I can keep it out of sight ; and I
told her you and my daughter will say nothing about it
Said Winnie, 'I knows that by her face.' Do you know
how quick these black people read faces?"
While she was sewing on Aunt Winnie's sacque, Jo**
Shears's wife came into our room a little while, and t'
226 A woman's lilPE-WORIC
daughter looked out the back window, where Jack was
chopping, and said, ''I don't think your Jack is going to
live long."
"Why? I'm sure he eats hearty."
"He looks so bad out of his eyes; I've noticed it a few
days past, and I've noticed he sort o' staggers sometimes^
and he don't walk natural."
She jumped up and looked at him and hastened to her
mother-in-law's room.
" Mother, Miss Springer says Jack is going to die."
"What makes her think Jack is going to die? I don't
see any thing ails Jack; he eats hearty."
Miss Springer (laughing): "I thought I'd scare her
out. I wish I could scare them to death, so they would
treat their niggers like human beings."
"Well, you've got her out of the way long enough to
get Winnie's sacque out of sight before our Joe comes in,
for he's so mighty careful for fear we'll get into trouble;
I know he'd scold if he knew it."
Strange position I was occupying, here among the most
cruel of slave-holders. And they were calling me a super-
intendent of the underground railroad at home; and here
was the starting-point on our underground railway; but
a silent listener, and in surprise, I said, " Where can Aunt
Winnie and her husband go? As you say, he is a slave."
"I don't know, but they do go somewhere out of the way
of their owners, though they keep up a mighty hunt for a
long time ; yet a good many of 'em are never heard from ;
and I don't know where in creation they do go, and I
don't care, so they get away from these hyenas that have
no more feelings for their niggers than a mid animal, nor
half as much. I just wonder sometimes that the niggers
do n't turn upon 'em and kill such devils. I know I would
if I were in their places." " Yet there are those who treat
*^eir servants kindly," I replied. I felt sometimes as if I
compelled to be indifferent.
TAKTXG A WALK. 227
My friend passed the window at which I was engaged
in sewing. After a few moments I made an excuse to rest
myself by taking a little walk, as each of us frequently
did. I soon overtook this friend who informed me that
Ann wished to see me after her tea was over, when she
would be released for a half hour to ,walk out on the
back way with a free mulatto girl, who was her intimate
and confidential friend, and I was to go in a large yard of
shrubs and fruit trees where I was to meet this friend who
would call for Ann, with whom we were to take the pro-
posed walk. At the appointed time and place I met the
friend, who directed me to stand in a place out of sight of
the street, or little cabin, the home of her very aged and
decrepit parents, who were worn-out slaves, and as I under-
stood were given their freedom. Their slave-daughter was
permitted to step in and do little chores for them after her
day's work was done.
While waiting in this lonely and solitary nook, three
large bloodhounds came in sight I remembered of hear-
ing about their being let loose after sunset, to reconnoiter
the premises, and I called to mind what I had heard and
read in history, that however ferocious an animal is, a stem
and steady gaze in the eye, by a human being, would dis-
arm it of ferocity, and cause it to leave. This course I
resolved to pursue with these three formidable enemies,
that were already assuming a threatening attitude, with a
low growl, showing their teeth, with hair on end — ^the
leader as large as a yearling calf, the two following him
slightly smaller. I fixed my eyes upon the sparkling eyes
of the leader, that came within six feet and stopped ; soon
the growl ceased, the lips dropped over the long tusks, the
hair smoothed back, and he quietly walked off with his
companion9. Soon came the girl, all out of breath : '* Did
the hounds come to you?"
" They did."
"Oh, dear! what did you do?"
228 A woman's mfe-work.
**I stood perfectly still," I auswered, "and looked in
the eyes of the leader, and they soon became quiet and
walked away."
"Oh, dear, that was the only thing that saved your
life. If you had stirred a particle they would have torn
you in pieces, l^was so anxious to have Ann see you, I
forgot the hounds until I started back, and I liked to have
&lnted, for I know they were awful. I liked to have
screamed out ' God have mercy on that dear friend,' for I
was 'most sure I 'd find you killed."
"Oh, no, the Lord has preserved me, and I am not
harmed." She was so badly frightened that it was some
time before her voice ceased trembling; but He who is
ever present with his trusting children was there.
Arrangements were made for Ann to go North, but if
a word of suspicion was heard, I told her she must defer
going to a future time; that she must go as her brother
went, perfectly independent of any one, which she was
confident of doing; but she wished to go on the same boat
with me, if no one else was goin^ from their city. I
learned through her friend that she was overheard to ask
a friend of hers for a shawl for a journey. I sent her
word to abandon the idea of going then at once ; that I
should take the first boat for home.
She did not obtain her freedom until after her mother's
death, two or three years later. I did not regard the trip
lost, painful as it was. There was on the boat a sad
couple, taken from a number of their children by a young
beardless boy^ perhaps eighteen or twenty, small and slen-
der. I noticed them frequently in tears. They were
noticed by a few of the passengers, who made remarks
about the sad faces of those negroes. Baid one heartless
woman, "Look at that nigger cry in'. I don't see what
she's cryin' about; she's got her young one and man to
her heels." I carelessly watched for an opportunity to
speak with one or both of these children of sorrow. As
RETURN FROM ARKANSAS. 229
they sat on a pile of cable on the rear deck I caught the
opportunity to inquire where they were going.
'' We do n't know ; our youug massa got to frettin', an'
ole massa gib us to him and some money, an' tole him to
go. We leP three bigger chillun behin' ; never 'spects to
see 'em ag^in ; I wish he 'd buy a plantation somewhar, so
we could go to work ; 'pears like thar 's no comfort for us
poor people, only when we 's got work, an' stops studyin'
so much."
As the tears began to fall thick and &st, I took them
by the hand and told them Jesus was the friend of the
poor, and he had many followers who also remembered
them in prayer. And he knew of their sorrow, and as
they went to him he would comfort their sorrowing hearts.
Pointing to his wife, he said, '' She knows that, and I wish
I did." I charged them to make no mention of my having
spoken to them. For while they were slaves, I was not
free. This young man with his heavy-hearted couple left
our boat at Pine Bluff.
Surely I had seen enough of slavery in its own house-
hold. Three weeks was long enough to see and feel its
virus. I met my old friends in Cincinnati with a glad
heart, where I could draw a free breath. I could visit
them but two days before I was on my way home, where
were many glad hearts to listen in private circles to my
experience in a slave State. More than ever they were
convinced that the cannon and sword would, at no very
distant day, destroy the monster.
Our institution was now in its second academic year, in
charge of Joseph D. Millard, of Oberlin College. The
stockholders had turned it over into my hands, making
me sole proprietor of the institution, with all its multiform
cares and responsibilities. I had also frequent calls from
fugitives in flight for freedom, whose claims were second
to none other. But to see prejudice in our studcuts melt
away by an ac(|uaintance with our work, richly repaid ir
230 A woman's i^ife-work.
for all my day and nigbt toiling and cares, that seemed
almost crushing at times. I purchased for the young men's
hall a building that was erected for a water cure. That
project failed, and the building that cost $2,000 to erect,
was offered for three hundred dollars for my institution.
I moved it one mile, and repaired it with fifteen rooms ; and
it was well filled the fiirst year. This academic year of
our usual three terms our students numbered over two
hundred, mostly of those who had been teaching, or pre-
paring themselves for teachers, or for a collegiate course.
I served as preceptress, and was closely confined in school
work. Realizing in a great measure the importance of
molding the mind of youth for usefulness, these years of
constant care passed pleasantly with the hundreds of young
people of our own and adjoining counties.
A colored man, with a farmer's bag swung over his
shoulder, approached two men at work on the railroad
between Palmyra and Adrian, and inquired how far it was
to Michigan.
" You are in Michigan, you fool you," was their reply.
" Then, will you please tell me how far it is to Canada?"
" You go to Adrian, about a mile ahead, and take the
cars, and they '11 take you to Canada iq two hours ; or, if
you have n't money to go that way, you can go up that
road till you come to the Quaker meeting-house, and go
direct east two miles to the Widow Haviland's school, and
she will tell you how to go to Canada, and it won't cost
you any thing. She is a great friend to your people."
He soon found me. I got my supper out of the way,
and my men folks out again at their work. I then in-
quired who directed him to me, and he told me ''two men
six miles from this school said you was a frien' to my
people ; an' I thought if folks knew you six miles off I
would be safe to come to you, 'case I wants to go to Can-
ada right soon. I started once before, and traveled three
'ghts by the North star; and as Indiana was a free State
A FUGITIVE FROM KENTUCKY. 231
I thouglit I would stop and buy me some bread, an' the
people was mighty kind, and said I could rest a week, and
they would pay me for the work I did, to help me on to
Canada. But firs' I knew my master come for me, an' I
seed him pay them money — s'poee 't was reward."
This time he was so cautious that he would make a
friend of no one until he reached Michigan. They had
always heard people were friends to colored people in this
State. He was six weeks from Kentucky, and had not
dared to make his condition known to any one, white or
black, until he saw a colored man in the yard at Dr. Bailey's,
of whom he inquired for my house.. I told him that his
coat and pants were too ragged, and that I must repair
them. As he had not a second shirt, I took one of my
son's, and gave him a couple of towels, soap, and a pail of
warm water, and told him to take off his coat for me to mend,
while he went up stairs to the room over the kitchen to
change his shirt. He hesitated about taking off his coat,
until I told him he must. ''I am not your mistress," said
I, "and yet you must mind me." Tears started as he
slowly drew it off, when the torn and bloody shirt-sleeves
revealed the long scars, and a few unhealed sores on his arms.
Said I: "Are these the marks of the slave-whip?"
He nodded assent, while tears were falling.
"When was this done?"
"Two nights afore I lef." ^
"What was your offense?"
" Dis was what I got for runnin' off; an' I fainte<1, an'
master dragged me in my cabin, and didn't lock me in,
'case I's so weak. I reckon he thought I's safe. But I
got an ing^on to rub over the bottoms of my shoes sb dogs
could n't foller me, an' I got four loaves o' bread and a big
piece o' boiled meat, an' crawled into de barn an* tuck dis
bag an' bufialo-robe for my bed, an' dragged it into de
woods, and tuck my bes' frien', de Norf star, an' follered
clean to dis place."
232 A woman's life-work.
** Wliat did you do for somethiDg to eat?"
'* I tuck corn in de fieF. When I foun' log heaps an'
brush burnin' I roasted a heap to W a few days ; but I
was weak an' trimbly to start, an' kep' so aU de way."
After this little history I made him take off his vest,
which was also very reluctantly done. But what a sight I
The back of his shirt was like one solid scab! I made him
open his collar, and I drew the shirt off from his shoul-
ders ; and from the appearance of the shoulders and back
it must have been cut to one mass of raw flesh six weeks
before, as there were still large unhealed sores. I told him
he must sit here until I called in my son and son-in-law
to see it. As they looked upon that man's back and arms,
and walked around him, said Levi Camburn, my son-in-law :
''Mother, I would shoot the villain that did that as
quick as I could get sight at him."
'•But, Levi," I replied, "he is not fit to die."
" Ko, and he never will be ; and the quicker he goes
to the place where he belongs the better. Indeed, I would
shoot him as quick as I would a squirrel if I could see him."
Joseph, my son, responded :
" I think Levi is about right, mother; the quicker such
a demon is out of the world the better."
^' I know this is a sad sight for us to look upon ; but I
did not call you in to set you to fighting."
Many of my friends, and my son-in-law Levi, had
thought me rather severe in judging the mass of slave-
holders by the few unprincipled men who had fidlen under
my special notice ; but I never heard of any remark what-
ever from my son-in-law or neighbors, after this incident,
that charged me with being too severe in judging slave-
holders. I furnished the poor man with healing salve, and
tried to persuade him to rest a few days until he would be
able to work ; but no, he must see Canada before he could
feel safe. He was very loath to sleep in any bed, and
urged me to allow him to lie on the floor in the kitchen,
FUGITIVE PROM LOUISIANA. 233
but I insisted on his occupying the bed over the kitchen.
I gave him a note of introduction to the next station agent,
with a little change ; and a few weeks after I heard from
my friend, whose name was George Wilson. The reporter
said: "The first two weeks he seemed to have no energy
for any thing. But then he went to work, and quite dis-
appointed us. He is getting to be one of the best hands
to hire in Windsor.**
This was the second fugitive from slavery who slept in
my home — ^mine being the first house they had dared to
sleep in since leaving their old home. A few days later
another fugitive came from Louisiana. He was a black-
smith. I wrote to a wealthy farmer in Napoleon, Michi-
gan, to learn whether he could not furnish business for one
or the other of two new arrivals from slavery. To show
the feelings of thousands of our citizens at this date, I will '
extract a portion of his letter :
''There are constantly in our moral horizon threaten-
ings of strife, discontent, and outbreaks between liberty
and slavery. The martyrdom of John Brown only whets
the appetite of the monster for greater sacrifice of life.
The continued imprisonment of Calvin Fairbanks and
others are not satisfying portions. I read your letter to
our Arkansas friend, and we are glad to learn that another
has escaped from the land of bondage, whips, and chains.
In view of the wrongs and cruelty of slavery, how truly
may it be said :
'There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart;
It does not feel for man.'
" The natural bond of brotherhood is severed as flax
that &lls asunder at the touch of fire. Let the lot of bit-
ter poverty be mine, and the hand of man blight every
hope of earthly enjoyment, and I would prefer it to the
condition of any man who lives at ease, and shares in
every fiincicd pleasure, that the toil, the sweat, and bloc "
20
234 A woman's life-work.
of slaves can procure. Alas for the tyrant slave-holder
when God shall make his award to his poor, oppressed,
and despised children, and to those who seek a transient
and yet delusive means of present happiness by trampling
his fellow and brother in the dust, and appropriating the
soul and body of his own crushed victim to the gratifica-
tion of his depraved appetites and passions. I would
rather enter the gloomy cell of your friend Fairbanks, and
spend every hour of this brief existence in all the bitter-
ness that the hand of tyrants can inflict, than live in all
pomp and splendor that the unpaid toil of slaves could
lavish upon man. Yours, etc.,
"July 27th, 1860. ^' ^' Rexford."
Our blacksmith, whom we called Charles Williams,
proved to be an honest and industrious man.
We solicited over seventy dollars for a poor woman by
the name of Jackson, from Marseilles, Kentucky, who had
bought herself by washing and ironing of nights, after her
mistress's work was done. During seven long years she
did not allow herself to undress except to change. Her
sleep was little naps over her ironing board. Seven years
of night work brought the money that procured her free-
dom. She had a son and daughter nearly grown, and to pur-
chase their freedom she was now bending her day and night
energies. Her first object was to purchase the son, as his
wages would aid her to accumulate more readily the amount
required for the daughter, as she had the promise of both
of her children. But her economizing to purchase the son
first for the sake of his help failed, as the master's indebt-
ucss compelled him to sell one of them, and market was
found for the girl of sixteen. Nine hundred dollars was
ofiTered, and the distressed mother had but four hundred
dollars to pay.
She had trusted in her Lord and Savior in all these
^urs of toiling, and now must she see that daughter sold
REDEEMING A SLAVE DAUGHTER. 235
down the river? In her distress she went from house to
house, to plead for a buyer who would advance the five
hundred dollars, and take a mortgage on her until she
could make it. At length she found a Baptist deacon who
purchased her daughter, and she paid him the four hun-
dred dollars. He was to keep her until the mortgage was
redeemed by the mother, who was compelled to abaudon
her first project, and bcud her energies toward making the
five hundred dollars. After working very hard one year,
she was able to pay but one hundred aud fifty dollars to
ward the mortgage, when her health began to fail. The
deacon told her the money was coming too slowly, and
that he could not wait longer than another year, before he
would have to sell her to get his money back. *' Weepiug
and prayer was my meat and drink day and night. Oh!
must I see my poor chile' go aftier all my hope to save
her?" A merchant in that town by whom she had been
employed, told her he would give her a little secret advice,
which was, to go to Louisville as she had done before, but
not to stop there, but to go on to Cincinnati, and he would
give her a good recommeudation to his brother, Mr.
Ketchara, who was a merchant and knew the abolitionists.
They would aid her in raising the three hundred and fifty
dollars ; but she must not let it be known that he had ad-
vised her, or that she was going North. Mr. Ketcham
introduced her to Levi Cofiin and lawyer John Jolliffe, who
gave her letters of introduction to friends at Oberlin, and
other places, and by the time she was sent to me she had
over two hundred dollars toward the release of the mort-
gage on the daughter. As her health was poor from con-
stant overwork and troubles incident to slave life, to give
her rest I took her papers, and while calling on the friends
of humanity, did not slight some of my Democratic friends,
some of whom had some years previously told me if I
would go to work and purchase the slaves they would aid me.
Consequently I csJled on one who was living in splen
236 A woman's life-work.
dor within his massive pile of brick, and reminded him of
the promise he made me on a certain occasion. Now was
his opportunity, as I was assisting a mother to purchase
her daughter. I gave him the line through which I had
received the best of indorsements as to her industrious and
honest Christian character, and what the friends had done
for her upon whom I had called, and but for her poor
health would have brought her with me. After listx^iiing
attentively to all my statements, he arose from his chair,
walked nervously to and fro across his room, as if striving
to his utmost to brace against sympathy, and said, *' Mrs.
Haviland, I '11 not give a penny to any one who will steal
slaves ; for you might just as well come to my bam and
steal my horse or wheat as to help slaves to Canada, out
of the reach of their owners."
** Did I do right," I asked, " in rescuing that Hamilton
family from the grasp of those Tennessee slave-holders?"
'* If I had taken a family under my wing, of course, I
should calculate to protect them."
" That is not the answer I call for. I want from you
a direct reply; did I do riglity or wrong, in that case?
You remember all the circumstances."
** Oh, yes, I remember it well, and as I tell you, if I
had undertaken to protect a family I should do it."
** I shall accept no prevarication whatever," said I ; "I
demand a square answer, and it is your duty to give it ;
did I do right or wrong in that case?"
He drew out his pocket-book, and Emptied it in my
lap. "There is hardly a dollar, and if I had more you
should have it ; of course you are right, and every sane
man or woman knows it; but my political relations are
such I wish you would n't say anything about it"
It is no new thing for politics to stand in the way of
humanity. A few weeks later the glad mother returned
and redeemed her daughter. I saw them together at Levi
rJoffin's, in Cincinnati, happy in their freedom.
COLLECTING MONEY. 237
Another woman was directed to me by William King,
who, with Eev. C C. Foote, had founded a colony a few
miles from Chatham, Ontario, for fugitives from slavery.
She managed to escape with seven children, and her hus-
band's master offered him to her for six hundred dollars,
two hundred dollars less than the market price. I went
with her a few days, and received from the friends one
hundred and thirteen dollars. Then the sight of one whom
she recognized hastened her back to Canada, a proceeding
which probably saved us the fate of the Oberlin or Well-
ington rescuers, who spent a few weeks in jail. A year
after we heard the husband and father was with his family
in Canada.
A few weeks elapsed when another woman from Cincin-
nati learned that her husband could be bought for a low
figure because of a rheumatic difEculty. She had been
freed three years previously, and by industry had accumu-
lated three hundred dollars. She came well recommended
by Levi Coffin and others. While making calls in her
behalf in a store owned by a Democratic fiiend, upon pre-
senting her claim to the proprietor and a few bystanders,
a gentleman stepped into the door with, '*I see you come
to Democrats for aid.**
" She knows her best friends,'* said our merchant.
"I slight no one," I answered. **I call upon my
acquaintances regardless of politics.
**I will give you five dollars for every one you'll get
from an abolitionist in this place," said the sparkling,
black-eyed stranger.
At this quite a shout arose in the store.
**That speaks well for your abolition friends," was the
ironical retort of another bystander.
"Who is that gentleman?" I inquired.
Mr. Lyons, the banker on Main Street," was the reply.
All right," I said, " I shall remember him." I stepjied
into Edwin Comstock's and mentioned this proposition.
238 A woman's I.I fk- work.
"Very well; I will give five dollars for the sake of
twenty-five dollars from Mr. Lyons/' and I placed that in
my book. I next met Stephen Allen on the street and
told him Mr. Lyons's pledge.
"All right," he said; **I will give four dollars, and that
takes all I have in my purse to-day; but I am glad to give
it for the twenty dollars we are to get from Mr. Lyons."
I called upon Anson Backus with my report and he said:
"Here is five dollars for the twenty-five from Mr.
Lyons." I then stepped into the Lyons's bank. " This, I
believe, is Mr. Lyons, the proprietor, who pledged a few
minutes ago five dollars for every one dollar I would get
from an abolitionist in this place.*' His face flushed in
reading the names with the fives and four dollar bills in the
book I handed him.
"There is no abolitionist's name here."
"Isn't Edwin Comstock an abolitionist?"
"No, he isn't."
"Isn't Stephen Allen an abolitionist?"
"No, he isn't."
"Isn't Anson Backus an abolitionist?"
"No, he isn't."
"Then I ask you to define an abolitionist, for I call
these men as radical abolitionists as we have in our
country."
" Well, they are not."
"Please define them that I may- know who they are."
"They are those who go down South and steal slaves
away from their owners and report that they whip men
and women and sell husbands and wives apart, and sep-
arate children from their mothers, and all that sort of
thing, when it's all an arrant black-hearted lie."
" Mr. Lyons, you know all these flat denials are sub-
stantial truths. As you say you have lived in the South,
you know in your o^vn heart that men and women are
cruelly whipped, and that families are separated, and these
ABOLITION IST8. 239
cases of cruelty are neither few nor fer between. I will
tell you what I have done for a woman who was a slave in
Kentucky when she came to me for advice in Cincinnati,
as she had a daughter to be sold, and her mistress was
going to sell the whole &mily down the river. She was
permitted to do her mistress's marketing in Cincinnati
because she had confidence that she would not leave her
family. I advised her to put her husband and children in
that market-wagon and cover them with hay and bring
them to a certain place I designated, and she would be
aided in her flight to Canada. She took the plan I sug-
gested, and her whole remaining family, nine in number,
foimd themselves free in Canada. Was that the work of
an abolitionist?"
•'No, it isn't."
''Then I know not where to find one, for I see I too am
out of the catalogue."
While this conversation was in progress he took three
dollars from his desk and handed it to me ; but as much as
ever, I stopped to thank him, and told him the worst wish
I had for him was that he would repent of his wicked
position before the hour of death overtook him, and that he
might find peace and pardon for these Satanic assertions he
had made. He sat quietly listening while I gave out my
indignation without stint. ''Hand me back that three dol-
lars," and it was as freely retiuned as I received it Ho
put it back in his drawer, took out five dollars and handed
it to me, and hardly took time to nod *'I thank you" for
finishing my speech, which was not in the least interrupted,
even with the increased subscription.
Poor man, I pitied him, for it was more than a year
before I could get another opportunity to speak to him.
His clerk left the bank as soon as he commenced his tirade.
Although it is unpleasant to meet with such spirits, yet I
never flee from them. If my cause is owned by the author
of the Hifj^icr Law, none of these things move me. A few
240 A woman's MFK-AVOItK.
mouths after this we received a letter from Mintie Berry,
the anxious wife, for whom we succeeded in raising enough
to reunite the long separated couple, saying that their
happy reunion was the result of favors firom their many
friends, to whom they returned grateful thanks, while they
praised the Lord for the blessing.
I received a letter, July 4, 1859, from poor Calvin
Fairbanks. Eight long years of the fifteen he had suffered
in a Kentucky penitentiary. How sad are these lines, con-
taining some of hia prison reflections ! He says :
« c*
Speak kindly, ye muses, my spirit inspire.
Breathe softly and sweetly, sweep gently my lyre ;
There 's gloom in my liarp-string*s low murmuring tone,
Speak kindly, speak gently, to me here alone.
My spirit all broken — no soul-cheering ray
To warm and illumine my cold dreary way.
No kind and belovecl ones of days that are gone —
There 's no one to cheer me, I *m alone, all alone.
From friends fondly cherished I 'm severed away,
From the hills where I laughed at the bright early day;
And the morning of lif^ like an arrow is gone,
Like a shadow, a moment, and here I 'm alone.
The guardians of childhood, like the bright early flower,
Have blossomed with fragrance, and are lost In an hour ;
And the cycle that brought them has eddied and gone,
And left me behind them, alone, all alone.
How solemn and dreary, how somljer with gloom.
Are my lonely reflections, of the cold silent tomb,
The abode of a fatlier once fearless and bold.
Of a sister once lovely, now silent and cold ;
Of a mother lamenting her lost, lonely son.
Awaiting awhile, but a day to bo gone.
And to mingle with spirits of blest early love.
And to rest in the bosom of Jesus above.
The thought of these loved ones, now silent for aye,
Or lingering and trembling, and passing away.
Breathes sadness on nature, most cheerful and gay,
And tnices these uumlwrs — we *rc passing away.
I
DEATH OF OUR PRINCIPAL. 241
But cease my complaining, we '11 soon be at peace,
We '11 rest from our labors, forever at ease;
There 's rest for the weary and joy for our gloom,
For God is our refuge, in heaven our home.
Yes, earth with her pleasures, and all that we love,
We shall leave for the land of bright spirits above ;
No blasting nor mildew, nor soul-blighting care.
No sorrow, no dying, no sin shall reign there.''
The year 1861 opened full of excitement. Both North
and South assumed threatening attitudes. Baisin Institute
wms affected by it; yet the work of the Lord prospered
with us. Within three weeks fourteen of our students
experienced the new spiritual life. But soon our ranks
were broken. The seventy-five thousand men in arms
called for at the first hy President Lincoln were not suffi-
cient to suppress the slave-holders' rebellion. Seventeen
of our students enlisted for the bloody conflicts of civil war.
Our principal, F. M. Olcott, had purchased my insti-
tution, and I looked forward to a happy release of the
$15,000 indebtedness that was resting over Raisin Insti-
tute. The room-rent was not utifficient to meet the interest
and other incidental expenses, and the tuition fees were
required to pay the teachers. This indebtedness rested
upon my shoulders. But for the salutary influence it ex-
erted in molding the characters of our youth, I should
have failed.
The declining health of our dear brother F. M. Olcott
brought increasing darkness over our future prospects, and
the memorable battle of Bull Run increased the shock that
startled the liberty lovers of our nation at the firing upon
Fort Sumter. The cloud that hung over our nation also
overshadowed our beloved institution. We closed this
year with sad forebodings. Our beloved principal was &st
hastening to his reward. He suggested a friend of his to
fill his position the ensuing year, and died of consumption
within six' weeks of our vacation. He was a noble Chris-
21
242 A woman's life-work.
tian man, and had endeared himself to all who enjoyed
the privilege of his acquaintance. His lots was severely
felt by his students, who enjoyed his faithful teaching, and
especially by myself, as I had indulged the fond hope that
he would become the efficient permanent principal.
The following year the institute opened with as fair
prospects as could be expected, in charge of Edward A.
Haight. Until the third year of the war our school was
continued in successful operation. But during the la^
term of 1863-4, when the war had taken seventeen of our
noble young men into the field, and the condition of our
Boldiers, daily reported <» saffering and dying in camp and
hospital, called for tender nursing, I offered myself for
that work.
Leaving an excellent young woman as preceptress in
my stead, I gathered from eighteen hundred to two thousand
garments for freedmen, and hospital supplies for soldiers,
and with papers from Austin Blair, governor of our State,
from F. C. Beaman, member of Congress, and from others,
I left my sweet home and the loved ones who still clustered
around it. On my way to the depot I was met by Bev.
P. Powell, who inquired how much money I had. " Fif-
teen dollars," was my answer.
"Why, Mother Haviland," he exclaimed, "you can
never go with only that. Stop a day or two, and 1 11 get
up eighty or a hundred dollars for you."
" But I have arranged for all my supplies to go on to-
day. There are three or four boxes waiting for me at
Hillsdale, and I wrote them I would be there to-night. I
have not asked for money, but for supplies. I have a free
pass to Chicago and return, and if I can get a pass free
to Cairo and return, I think I can get along, and perhaps
lives may be in peril in the twenty-four hours I might be
waiting here for money."
" Will you telegraph me if you do not succeed in get-
ting the passes in Chicago?"
FREE PASS TO CAIRO. 243
'* I will," I said, and went forward.
As I was taking leave of my 9oa Joseph, and was
about to enter the car, he held me by the hand, and said :
"One promise I want you to make me, and make it so
strong that your conscience will come in for a sliare ; and
that is, that you will stop, once in a while, to think whether
you are tired or not. You are going among the suffering
and dying, and I know you so well that you will go and
go and do and do, until you will drop before you will
think of yourself. If you will make me this promise I will
feel a great deal better about you."
"Joseph," I said, "I will promise to do this," and we
parted.
On visiting the sanitary rooms in Chicago I met Mrs.
Hague, Mrs. Livermore, and others, who thought it very
doubtful whether I could secure a fiire free to Cairo, as
President Arthur had shut down the gate on free, or even
half-fiire, passes. He had told them that associations might
pay their agents enough to pay their &re. But I was
under the auspices of no association. I was only a self-
constituted agent, and I must try. Leaning on the arm
of my guide, I went to President Arthur, and introduced
myself by handing him my papers. On reading them he
adced, rather sharply, " What do you want?"
" I am hoping to obtain a free pass to Cairo and re-
turn," I replied, "and free transportation for the supplies
referred to in those papers."
" Are you alone, madam ?"
" I am alone."
" Well, I think this is a heavy responsibility for a lady
of your age. Are you aware of the responsibility you
assume in this?" holding the paper up.
" I think I am aware of the responsibility. I do not
know but the experience of age, however, may somewhat
make up for the strength of youth."
" WeU, I guess it will."
244 A woman's life-work.
Settling himself back in his easy arm chair, he said
again, ^* How long a time do you want it for?''
" I can not answer intelligently," I said ; ** I may wish
to return for more supplies, within two or three months,
aud I can not say how long it will take to disburse these
supplies judiciously." *
** Very well," and he took my papers to his chief clerk,
and soon brought me back passes, saying, '* There are your
passes, and they'll bring you back any time this year.**
He gave me also an order for free transportation. I left his
office praising God for another victory.
I was met in the door of the sanitary rooms with ''Did
you succeed in getting a half-fare pass?"
''A free pass to Cairo and return," I said, "and free
transportation for all my supplies from President Arthur."
The clerk clapped his hands, cheering: "You are a
fiivored one ; not one of us would have got that favor."
Not till then did they know of my leaving home with
only fifteen dollars ; yet it was sufficient.
A few hours more landed me in Cairo, where the wharf
was lined with cannon, and piles of shells and balls. My
first work was to find a soldiers' home, and visit hospitals.
Oh, what scenes at once were presented to my view ! Here
were the groans of the wounded and dying soldiers. Some
were praying — a few were swearing; and yet feven these
would patiently listen to reading the promises of Jesus and
his loving invitations, and become calm.
HOSPITAL WORK. 245
Chapter X.
HOSPITAL WORK.
Our last chapter left us in hospital work at Cairo. A
portion of the freedmen's camp of three thousand the offi-
cers proposed to remove to Island No. 10, and wished me
to take most of my supplies to that place. While waiting
for their arrival I visited the United States Hospital at
Mound City, a few miles up the Ohio River. Here, too,
were dying soldiers, one of whom especially attracted my
attention, as he was perfectly sane and rather unusually
intelligent. I immediately addressed him: ''My son, are
you prepared to go hence?"
*' Mother," he said, " that is a matter which I ought to
have attended to long ago, but I did not, and now it is
too late I I am dying,"
'* Oh, do not say too late! Remember the condition is,
* Believe and thou shalt be iavedf * As thou hast believedy so
shall it be unto thee.' These are the sure promises of our
merciful Redeemer. Remember the thief on the cross
looked at him with repenting spirit an^ living faith, and
said, 'Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy
kingdom;' and the quick reply was, 'This day thou shalt
be with me in Paradise.' Can you not trust such a Re-
deemer ? — such a loving Father as is our God, who saves
to the uttermost all who ask with believing hearts?" He
firmly held my hand and said, "I will try."
Our prayers were mingled in asking for the enlighten-
ing of the Holy Spirit, and while he was asking for the
forgiveness of all his sins, that he might receive an evidence
of acceptance, he seemed encouraged and gave me t^
246 A woman's life-work.
names and address of his parents, for me to write them of
his hope, in departing, of a better future.
There was also great suiTering in the camp of freedmen.
The officers wished me to aid them in persuading these
people to go down to the island, as they were afraid of
being returned to slavery at the close of the war, and
desired to push as far into the free States as possible, and
very loath to go back **an inch," as one of the officers
expressed it. I took the names of these almost nude peo-
ple, whom I instructed to come to my tent; as the officers
said I should have one for the purpose of giving out cloth-
ing to the most needy among them. They assured them
that their freedom was a fixed fact ; that they would never
see the day again when they would be separated by being
sold apart. This, I found, was a greater inducement for
them to consent to the request of the officers to go to the
island than all the clothing I could promise.
But one poor woman came to the captain weeping, say-
ing, ** My poor baby is dyin', an* I can't leave him. He is
my only chile leil me." In the great hurry and bustle of
business the quick reply was, ''Go back and I'll see to it."
As she left the office he turned to me and said, ''I don't
know whether it is so or not; they get up all sorts of
excuses." As she was not yet out of sight, I followed her
to the slab hut and found it true. An hour later and the
baby of eight years was in the spirit world.
''Now, missus, I can't go an' leave my dead baby for
de wharf- rats to eat, an' de boat goes out at three
o'clock."
I reported the death of the child and of the distress of
the mother. "Tell her," said the officer, "we will see that
her ehild is buried this afternoon, and I want her to go on
this boat" I told the mother of the captain's wish, and
that I would see that her child was buried.
"Oh, missus, it 'pears like I can't leave him so; they'll
' nve him here to-night, an' dese wharf-rats are awful. Da
DEATH OP A CHILD. 247
eat one dead chile's face all one side off, an' one of its feet
was all gnawed off. I do n't want to leave my chile on dis
bare groun'."
The grief of this poor mother was distressing in the
extreme. She knew not whether her husband and three
older children, sold away two years previously, were still
slaves or living, as she had never heard a word from them
since they were taken from her. Those sad separations,
she said, were much harder to bear than the death of this
child. But she consented to go, on my promise to see
that her child was buried before night. After she left for
the boat I went to the captain to see his promise performed.
He seemed very indifferent.
'^AVhat is the difference if that child shouldn't be
buried this afternoon or whether wharf-rats eat it or not?"
''You promised to have it buried this afternoon," I said,
"and I told that poor woman I would see that it was
done; and I see no other way than to hold you to that
promise, for I shall meet her on the island, and I must
report to her."
Said the captain, "You won't allow such things as these
to break your heart, after being in the army a little while
and seeing our soldiers buried in a ditch, with no other coffin
or winding sheet than the soldier's dress. For the time
being wa bury hundreds just in that way; and when from
five to fifteen die in one day, as sometimes is the case in
these large camps, we can not make coffins for them, but
we roll them up in whatever they have. If we can get a
piece of board to lay them on when we put them in their
graves we do well." "But here you have lumber and
plenty of carpenters, and you can have a plain coffin for
the dead, and I do hope one will be made for this child.
As I told the mother I would see that a coffin was made
for her child and have it buried this afternoon, I will do
it." He called the sergeant and gave the order for a caiv
penter among the soldiers to make it, and I saw the pine
248 A woman's life-work.
board coffin go to the burying ground with the child just
before sunset.
Colonel Thomas and the captain doul)ted whether I
could secure transportation from General Taliaferro, who
was in charge of that poet. They said he was a cross old
bachelor, and had said he would not give another woman
transportation to go into the army. "But," said Colonel
Thomas to the captain, ''she will be more likely to suc-
ceed if she goes herself without any word from us."
On the following day my car-load of supplies arrived,
and I began to regret that I had not waited a day or two
longer at home for the one hundred dollars that could have
been placed in my hands, so that I could use it in an emer-
gency if I should be refused transportation. With some
misgivings I entered the general's office and requested an
interview. I introduced myself by handing him my papers,
which he looked over, and pleasantly asked what I wished.
''I am hoping," I said, ''to secura transportation to
Island No. 10,'and to Memphis, Tennessee, for myself and
the supplies referred to in those papers."
"Well, madam, I think your papers are worthy of
attention, and I will grant your request."
This was said in such a pleasant manner I almost con-
cluded the general had been misrepresented, but how
changed his tone when he called his adjutant, wiio in an
instant stood before him. "Gro tell my clerk to come in."
He hurried to obey his command, and returned with the
report, " He is gone."
" Gone! where has he gone?"
" He went a few minutes ago to Church."
" Gone to Church I He has no business to go to
Church, or anywhere else, w ithout my permission ; he has
no right to leave his office without my order."
This he said in such a stern, vociferous manner that I
wished myself out of his presence. But turning to me, in
a mild tone, he said :
TRANSPORTATION. 249
" Mrs. Haviland, you do n't "want traii8ix>rtation to-
night. You oome to-morrow morning at nine o'clock, and
you shall have the papers.**
With heartfelt thanks I left his office. On my return
I found Colonel Thomas and the captain anxiously waiting
to learn the result of my call on the general. They met
me at the door of their office, and asked :
" What^ the news f
'' The general grants transportation for myself and sup-
plies to Island No. 10 and to Memphis," I said.
By their clapping of hands one would have thought
they had got cheering news from the army. I found they
too felt the weight of responsibility in this, as they had
solicited my aid in getting these freed people to go to
the island.
The following morning I found a boat was going to
leave at half-past eight o'clock, but too early for the
promised transportation. I told the captain of the boat
of my wish to go with supplies to Island No. 10 and to
Memphis, but had the promise from the general to have
the papers at nine o'clock. A captain in the army, stand-
ing by, told him be could take me with supplies with all
safety ; for if General Taliaferro had promised transporta-
tion he oould rest assured the general at Columbus, Ken-
tucky, would be sure to give it
" Very well," he said ; ** where are your supplies?"
They were pointed out, and he ordered them to be put
on board at once.
On landing at Columbus I called on the general, and
secured transportation from Cairo to places of destination.
Now I thought all was straight ; but as I handed my paper
to the captain he said :
''This is an order for transportation. The captain-
quartermaster is to fill it out, to be good for any thing."
I confessed my ignorance of army red-tape, and took
back the papers to have them finished. He inquired fc
250 A woman's life-work.
my pass from the provost- marshal. That, too, I knew
nothing about; but the army captain came to my relief,
taking my papers and getting the transportation filled,
with a pass from the provost -marshal. These lessons I
found important in all my after work.
We soon landed at Island No. 10, the area of which
was two hundred and fifty acres of available plow land,
with an excellent orchard of three hundred bearing apple
and peach trees. Upon this island were seven hundred
freedmen, who were making good use of the rich donations
of twenty-five plows, with harrows, hoes, axes, rakes, and
garden and field seeds, from Indiana and Ohio. Their
superintendent. Chaplain Thomas, told me that he never
saw a more willing and obedient people. They mostly
lived in tents. Grovernment had furnished lumber to erect
a few temporary buildings. An old dilapidated fisurm-
house, and a few log-huts formerly occupied by the over-
seer and slaves, were the homes of Captain Gordon and
Burgeon Bansom, with their families, who seemed to enjoy
camp life as well as any I had seen. They had in charge
four companies of soldiers. Their hospital assumed an air
of neatness and comfort.
We took a stroll over the battle-ground, and saw the
deep furrows plowed by the terrible shells, in which a horse
might be buried. Here and there were interspersed ''rebel
rat-holes," as they were called, dug seven or eight feet
deep, and nearly covered with planks and two or three feet
of earth, in which they dropped themselves, after firing,
to reload and be secure from flying shot and shelL I
picked up a couple of cannon-balls about the size of a
small tea-cup, of which a peck is used for a load. An
ofiicer told me that he saw twenty-five rebels killed with one
discharge of these balls. O, what slaughter of human life !
Government provided a physician and dispensary for
^^e freed people. Their hospital was a tent, like the ma-
ity of the regimental hospitals in the army. The first
AN OLD FBEEDMAN. 261
tent I visited was occupied bj an aged pair, with two
grown children, who appeared quite intelligent. Hard
treatment and cruel separations had filled the greater por-
tion of their lives. As I wiis making remarks on the
wickedness of slavery, said the old man, with tearful eyes,
** Please stop till I bring in my daughter and &mily from
the next tent." They soon entered. '* Please go on," said
the fiither. While tears were coursiug down the old man's
furrowed cheeks, in undertone he ejaculated, '* O Lord, I
did not expect to live to see this day."
At the close of my remarks he arose to his feet, and
in the most pathetic manner addressed his fiunily as follows:
"My wife and children, have you thought we should ever
see this? I fear we are not thankful enough to God- Do
we prize tUs precious privilege as we ought? That dear
wife was sold from me nearly twenty years ago; soon after
my children were sold, and I thought my heart was broke.
They punished me because I grieved so much, and then
sold me to be taken another way. O, how I prayed for
death to hide me from my troubles, for I thought none
could see as much as I did. Many gloomy nights and
days of sorrow I spent I could hear no word from my
wife, and nothing from my chUdren. My master told me
I should never hear from them again, because I made so
much trouble over it; he would send me as far as wind
and water would carry me, so I would never hear from
them again. I remembered the words of my poor old &-
ther upon his death -bed, when he gave me this Bible;
' My son, the same God that made that Bible learned me
to read it, and learned me to endure hard trials patiently.
Bemember, my son, the same God will do the same for
you if you go to him for help ;' and so he has. Praise be
to the Lord forever I" He took from a box a Bible, all
spotted over with mold, without and within: ''This Bible
has been manna to my soul for many years. God has
learned me to read, as he did my poor father. He has
252 A WOMAN*8 I.IFE-WORK.
been my support. I have prayed these many years for
deliverance from bondage, and my &ith told me it ivould
come ; but I did n't know it would come in my time. O,
what a Savior is our JesusJ That dear wife was compelled
to marry another man in these long years of separation.
He was taken into the rebel army, and she came to the
Union camp. A few days ago we met at Fort Pillow;
and there we met our two long lost children ; and here we
found this daughter and family. O, how wonderful are
God's ways ! O, my wife, my children I let us live nearer
that Almighty Deliverer than ever before, and praise his
holy name forever." And the tall figure sat down, amid
sobs and tears. The spirit of that family sermon I can
never forget
Thb noble man, Uncle Stephen, was but a few days
before a slave ; yet with the dignity of a patriarch he a^
suraed his new relation. He was evidently a self-taught
man, more intelligent, and using more correct language,
than any I had met on the island. ^
On leaving my tent, tickets were given with explana-
tions of my mission,. which was both new and strange to
them. In another tent I found a young man who had
attempted to escape to our lines more than a year before,
but was overtaken and shot by his master, shivering the
bones six inches above the ankle, making amputation I
necessary. He was beginning to^ use his wooden leg. His
master was taken prisoner by our men a few days before,
and he, with one hundred fellow-slaves, fell into the hands
of the Union army. He was fitted with a whole suit.
This was done in but few instances, the general destitution
forbidding it. It would have pleased the donors to see me
with open boxes, taking out garment after garment, meas-
uring and delivering, upon presentation of tickets pre-
viously given, to fifty or a hundred at a time; and to listen
to the many thanks and hearty **God bless you!" as each
garment was taken.
i
DISTRIBUTING GARMENTS. 258
At brealvfast the adjutant told me of iive little boys
belonging to some of the Fort Pillow iamiiies that were
almost naked, and that he had given one little fellow a pair
of his own pants. I told him to bring them to the com-
missary tent any time from nine to twelve o'clock, 'as I had
arranged to meet the children to whom I had given tick-
ets; and if he brought them or gave them a slip of paper
with his name, it would serve the same purpose. Soon
we were beside the boxes in our commissary tent measur-
ing, fitting, and handing out, when up stepped the little
fellow of eight summers with the tall man's pants, rolled
over and over at the bottom, with one suspender tied
around him, the other placed over his shoulder to hold
them on. His eyes sparkled as a new suit was thrown
over his arm; calling out, "See here, Johnnie, what I got I"
"Yes, look at minel" was the quick reply, while on the
other side stood a little girl who exclaimed, in surprise,
"Oh, Milla, my dress lias a pocket, and see what I found,"
as she drew out a rag doll two inches long. Then a dozen
other little girls instituted a search and found similar treas-
ures, which I recognized as coming from certain little girls
in Hudson, Michigan. All were on tip-toe with excite-
ment, and these remarks were flying through this crowd
of little folks when the adjutant came to the tent^loor.
Jjaughing through tears, he said, "Have you ever thought
of the Savior's words, * Inasmuch as ye have done it unto
the lead of these, ye have done it unto me?'"
"That thought had come to my mind before engaging
in this mission, and it is that which drew me from my
Michigan home."
"Doesn't this pay you," he continued, " for coming all
this distance, to see those sparkling eyes and light hearts
danciug with joy ?"
"Here is verified the declaration that it is more blessed
to give than to receive," was my reply.
A woman came one evening with the following queries:
254 A WOMAN^S I.I FK-AVORK.
" Missus, '>v]iar all dese clo'es come firom ? Does gov*-
ment send 'em to us?"
On listening to my explanation, "An' don't gov'ment
pay you for briiigiu' 'em to us?"
After all her questions had been disponed of she sat for
a moment in a deep study; then said in surprise, ''De
Norf mus* be mighty, mighty rich to send so much money
down here to carry on de war and send so much to eat,
and den da send so many clo'es an' keep so many men
here too ; indeed da mus' be mighty rich."
They were preparing to open a school for them. Henry
Boundtree, a missonary, was laboring among them, and
would disburse clothing sent to that point.
Aflor spending over a week on this beautiful island,
on my way to the steamer, I was hiuled by a female voice
calling out, " Missus, missus, don't pass by dis yere way."
Turning in the direction of the call, I saw a very old
woman sitting on a log, clad in a man'sr coat, hat, and
shoes, with an old patched negro cotton skirt. On ap-
proaching her I remarked, as I took the bony hand, "You
are very old."
"Can't tell how ole I is, only I knows I's been here
great while. Tou see dat white house over de river dar?
Dat 's been my home great many year, but massa drove me
oiT, he say, 'case I 's no 'count, gwine round wheezin' like
an ole boss, an' snap a gun at me an' say he shoot my
brain out if I did n't go to de Yankees. An' missus come
out an' say she set fire to my cabin some night an' bum
me up in it. ^Go long to de Yankees; da wants niggers,
an' you aint no 'count no how.' An' I tole 'em, * Wa' n't I
'count good many years ago?* But da say, 'Clar out wid
you/ An' I seed some boys fishing' on de bank, an' da
fetch me over."
Looking down at her stockingless feet she said, "Missus,
I ain't had a suit o' clo'es in seven years." I told her if
there was a woman's garment left she should have it And
ON THE STEAMER. 255
I would tell the good people about her, and ihey would
send her a suit of clothes.
" Tank you, missus ; God bless you V
And I left the giant-like old woman, whose head was
bleached by the frosts of eighty or ninety Winters. While
waiting on the gunboat for the steamer, I referred to the
old woman I had seen, when one of the men turned to his
comrade and said, '* That's the same strange-appearing old
woman we brought over," and he repeated the same story
she related to me. Said one, "Such people ought to be
made to bite the dust. Her master took the oath of alle-
giance to save his property; but he has no more principle
than a hyena to turn out such an old white-headed woman
as that to die like a brute.*^
Such are some of the incidents that gradually changed
the politics of the army. They made our Butlers and
Hunters by scores. They saw that man's inhumanity to
man was the outgrowth of slavery. They clearly per-
ceived that the iron rod of oppression must be broken, or.
the unholy rebellion would succeed.
At four P. M. I embarked for another field. On board
the steamer were a number of officers and soldiers, and
three women who were ex-slave owners. They had quietly
listened to the conversation of the officers on establishing
schools among the frccdmen, and taking them into the
army as soldiers. I, too, had been a silent listener. After
the officers had left the cabin, one of the women drew her
chair near me, and in a subdued tone said :
"Do you believe it is right to set up schools among
niggers ?**
"Certainly I do,** was my reply, "as they have as
good a right to become inteUigent as any other class of
people."
"Do you think that it is right to make soldiers out of
niggers?'*
"Certainly, if it is right for any class of people."
2oG A woman's life-work.
After looking around to see whether any officer was in
hearing, she added:
''And do you think it right to rob us of our niggers, as
the Yankees are doing?" •
"Certainly, if you call it robbery to allow the negroes
to go where they please."
My replies were in my common tone of voice, yet it
seemed to frighten her. She would take a look to see
whether an officer was near. Then would go on with her
queries in an undertone.
**I tell you it is mighty hard, for my pa paid his own
money for our niggers; and that's not all they've robbed
us of. They have taken our horses and cattle and sheep
atid every ihingj*
As I had my little Bible in my hand, I turned to the
predicted destruction of Babylon in Eevelatiou, and read,
'* Fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses,
and chariots, and slaves, and souls of m^." ''You see
here," I said, "are the very articles you haved named.
And God is the same unchanging Lord to^iay."
" But I tell you, madam, its mighty, mighty hard."
In all this conversation she closely watched the officers,
and often raised her handkerchief to her face while talking
with me, as if to check the sound of her already stifled
voice. How widely diflerent were our positions, compared
with six years before, when going down this river on an
errand for a white fugitive from slavery. Then my thoughts
could find no place even in a whisper, and slave-holders
were cursing and threatening abolitionists. What a turn-
ing of tables ! Now I could say all that was in my heart
on the sin of slavery, and the slave-holder was now hushed.
The coal-lmrge ** L. S. Haviland," that I saw on my other
trip tied up a little way above Memphis, was not now to
be seen. I had not yet learned the fate of those Tennes-
see slave-holders who had so often threatened my life, and
number of my friends had advised me to keep a proper
JACKSON HOSPITAL. 257
distance from them, as this might be the time for their
opportunitj. When I left my home I had no idea of go-
ing as far as Tennessee, or my children and friends would
have feared for my safety ; but, as for myself, I knew no
fear.
In Memphis I found many hospitals filled with sick,
wounded, and dying soldiers ; and in better condition than
I had anticipated, except the Jackson Hospital, which was
one of the largest in the city. I asked permission of the
guards to enter, but was informed their orders were very
strict to allow no one to go in without permission.
" Very well," said I, " please inform me where I can
find the clerk, and I will secure a permit.''
The surgeon in charge was just passing out of the main
entrance, and the guard introduced me. I informed him
of my wish to visit his hospital. In a very surly manner
he inquired :
" Have you a son here?"
" I have not," I answered.
" Then what do you want to go in here for? It is no
place for a lady to step her foot over the threshold of a
hospital."
"I perceive you and I differ widely in that ; but if you
doubt my fitness to visit your patients, you can examine
my papers from the governor of my State and a member
of Congress and others."
" If you have no son here, I do n't see that you have
any business here."
'* Every soldier is some mother^s son, and I wish to
visit them, and here are my papers ; you can read them
if you wish."
Throwing out his hand angrily, he said :
" Go along, then ; go along."
I went, but he took good care to bear me company.
As we entered each ward, every soldier who was able
to bear his weight sprang to his feet, and stood by his cot
22
268 A woman's life-work.
during our stay in the ward. I saw at once that it was in
pursuance of an order. I had made it a point to shake
hands with every soldier that was awake and conscious;
but the surgeon hurried through without giving an oppor-
tunity to speak to a half-dozen in the whole hospital. One
poor skeleton of a man sat bolstered on his cot, eating his
dinner, and had on hb plate a spoonful of cooked onion.
" Where did you get that onion ?" cried the surgeon.
" I paid my own money for it, doctor."
"Who said you might have it?"
*' Dr. Spears."
" Very well, then ;" and passed.on.
Here my disgust filled up to the brim. I cared but
little for his attempt to browbeat me ; but when he treated
a helpless soldier like this I could hardly keep my indig-
nation from boiling over. The first words spoken to me
after entering the hospital were :
"Do you want to go into the kitchen?"
" I would like to pass through your kitchen," was my
reply.
"Very un&vorable time, madam — very un&vorable;
about dinner-time."
Very favorable, thought I, and went in. I could see
at a glance that the large caldron of potatoes was boiled
half an hour too long. Their bread looked well, and I
suppose it was good. As we passed out, taking memo-
randa and pencil, I said :
" You have a very large hospital. How many will it
accommodate?"
"Fifteen hundred, madam. Very few, very few at
present, only four hundred and eighty-four."
** How many nurses have you?"
"Twenty-three."
" No female nurses?"
" No, madam. As I told you, a woman has no busi-
ness to step inside of a hospital."
SURGEON POWEBS. 269
"As I told you, we evidently differ in that respect
Where I have found judicious female nurses it seems more
home-like, and our soldiers feel more contented."
" Very few, very few judicious female nurses."
"They exist, notwithstanding. How many surgeons
have you 7"
" Only four at present."
" You are the surgeon in charge ; please give me your
name."
"My name is Surgeon Powers, of the Seventh Mis-
souri Begiment"
His name and figures were too plainly recorded to be
effaced. Here he turned a perfect somersault, if words
could perform the feat With an affected politeness, bow-
ing himself almost double :
" Madam, I hope you will call again some time ; call
in the middle of the forenoon or afternoon — very unfavor-
able about meal-time."
" If I remain a week or ten days longer in the city," I
replied, " I shall do so."
"I would be very happy to have you call again,
madam ; very happy to see you again."
I left with a heavy heart, and called at the sanitary
rooms to ascertain the location of five unvisited hospitals.
I found the room fiUed with officers and a few generals of
high rank. I introduced myself, as usual, by handing Dr.
Warrener, sanitary agent, my papers.
" Then you are visiting the hospitals, with supplies,
etc., are you? I am glad to see you, as we have had no
visitor from so far North. How do you find them?"
" I have found them," I answered, " more satisfactorily
conducted than I anticipated, with but one exception."
" Have you visited the Jackson?"
" I have just come from there."
" To-day is not the visiting day. Did you see Surgeon
Powers?"
260 A woman's life-work.
" I did.''
*'DId you get into that hospital without trouble?"
** We had a parley."
"What did he say to youf
I gave his objection and my reply in a low tone. To
my annoyance, the doctor repeated it in a loud voice, and
continued :
** You certainly could have given no better reason than
that every soldier is some mother's son. What do you
think of Surgeon Powers?"
I hesitated in view of all these officers ; but my second
thought was, no matter whether the President himself were
present; and I frankly replied;
"I think he is a tyrant brandy-cask. Why do you
allow such a man to occupy the responsible position of
surgeon in charge of hundreds of the sick and wounded
soldiers?"
" We tried once to get him out, and failed. You ought
to see the medical director, who is in the city."
He gave me the location of the hospitals I desired, and
I left. Kememberiug the promise I made my son Joseph,
I returned to head-quarters, and spent the balance of the
day in writing for soldiers and for myself.
The following morning I resumed hospital visiting. On
the street I met an officer, who reached his hand with a
smile, saying, " You do not recognize me, but I recognize
you as being the lady in Dr. Warrener's office yesterday,
after visiting the Jackson Hospital."
" I do not know but you thought me severe in my re-
marks concerning Surgeon Powers."
**Not at all — ^not by any means, for I had two sons
under him six weeks, and they both declared they would
rather die in the open field than be under the care of
that drunken tyrant again."
" Why do you permit such a surgeon to have the care
of the sick, wounded, and dying soldiers?"
THE MEBICAL DIRECTOR. 261
" Well, it is difficult for us to do much with each other,
bat there is the medical director just ahead of us ; you
ought to see him ; I '11 intrpduce you. He is very much
of a gentleman."
The first query of the medical director, after reading
my papers, was *' Have you visited the Jackson Hospital?
And did you see Surgeon Powers?"
"I undertook to visit it yesterday," I said, "but was
hurried through in such haste, by Surgeon Powers, that I
could not speak to any of the soldiers, or stop to write for
them to their home friends, if they desired."
" What do you think of Surgeon Powers?"
" I think he is an unfeeling tyrant. The white of his
eyes had the color of red flannel, and the unmistakable
brandy breath made standing near him very unpleasant.
Besides, his ungentlemanly, morose treatment of helpless
soldiers indicates his entire unfitness for the position he
occupies. If the milk of human kindness is more loudly
called for in one position than another, it is in the surgeon
in charge of sick, wounded, and dying soldiers."
" We know, Mrs. Haviland, this is true, and we made
an efibrt to displace him once and failed, because the med-
ical director over the whole of us in this division, next in
rank to Orant himself, is determined to hold him here.
But if you will make out your report, with the recom-
mendations from your governor and Congressman backing
it, we can make that efficient. You may make your re-
port as strong as you please."
I left him with cordial thanks, and soon the report was
handed him. I visited all the hospitals in that post, and
on my second visit to the Jackson found Surgeon Powers
filled to overflowing with afiected politeness ; but it did
not brighten the bleared eye, or straighten the zigzag gait
of the surgeon.
A few weeks alter I met a Memphis officer, who in-
formed me that Surgeon Powers was relieved of hospital
262 A woman's life-work.
work altogether very soon after I Ipft the city. A few
months later he filled a drunkard's grave.
In one hospital in Memphis I found in one comer a
female soldier, Charlie. She was in both Bull Bun battles,
aud four others she named ; besides, she had endured long
marches. Here she was taken violeiltly ill with typhoid
fever, and for the first time her sex became known. She
was large and rather coarse-featured, and of indomitable
wilL She »8aid the cause of her enlistment did not now
exist, and she wanted to go home as soon as able. She
intimated that her betrothed had recently died, and she
had no desire to remain in the army.
While in Memphis a telegram came fix)m President
Lincoln ordering four hundred colored men to be enlisted,
and no more, until further orders. Colonel Eaton took
this work for his breakfast spell. As he came in rather
late for his morning meal he said, '' I have enUsted the re-
quired number, and quite a company went away crying
because they could not enlist. I comforted them by telling
them that I presumed there would be another call soon."
I had built a bed for myself in one corner of the commis-
sary building, and as we were occupying the weakest point
at the post, we were ordered to have no light in our tents,
but before dark to have every needed article at our bedside,
ready at a moment's warning to be conducted to Fort Pick-
ering. Soldiers were kept in readiness for action, as the
enemy was threatening to retake Memphis. At two o'clock
A. M. the loud cry, '^Halt!" at the comer where I was
sleeping, aroused me. This was quickly fi^llowed by a stil*
louder *^ Halt! May be you do n't know who I is ; I holds
a gun, an' her 's oflT."
" Well — well, I only want to come to you ; I don't want
to go farther." The officer approached, sapng, ''That is
right; if I had taken one step after you cried halt the third
time, you should have shot me through, no matter who I
am, if it was the President himself."
A SICK SOLDIER. 263
At the breakfast table Colonel Eaton remarked: ''A
number of our new colored soldiers were put on picket
guard last night on trial, and not one sleepy head was
found among them. Since we accept these men as soldiers
I am confident it will do away the necessity of drafting
men, as some think must soon be done."
I spent a few days in visiting hospitals, often reading
portions of Scripture, and kneeling by the cot of the suf-
fering and dying soldiers, imploring the Great Physician to
heal the sin-sick soul. For some I wrote letters to their
home friends, which I found was often very gratifying to poor
homesick boys. One very sick with pneumonia wished mo
to write to his folks in Kent County, Michigan, that he
was in the hospital from a little cold, but would soon be
able to join his regiment again. I dared not write accord-
ing to his directions, and told him I would finish his letter
at head-quarters. When he asked my name, he wanted to
know if I was a relative of Rev. D. S. Haviland, in Kent
County, Michigan. When I told him he was my son, he
held my hand in both of his and burst into a flood of tears,
and said he had heard him preach many times, and thought
he was such a good man. I saw his feelings were deeply
affected, and I feared it would increase the fever, and I
promised to come and see him again in a day or two. I
sat by him with my hand upon his head and consoled him
as best I could. When he became calm I left, and called
on his physician for his opinion concerning him. He said
he was still in a critical condition, but thought the disenso
was turning in his favor, and advised me not to write to
his friends until two days more had passed, as he would
then be able to judge better of his case. Two days later
I called again and found him much better, but the doctor
thought the excitement of my leaving him increased the
fever during the afternoon. He was now a little stronger,
and he said I had better not let him know that I designed
leaving the city. I finished the letter with greater encor
264 A woman's lifb-work.
agement than I could have done conscientiously on my
first visit
As I was passing out one of the convalescents said,
''Frank, here is that woman you wanted to see;" and he
came on a run.
**Are you from Michigan?" I asked.
" Not quite," he said ; " but I Ve been in Michigan. I
am from Ohio, and that is its next neighbor;" and he
seemed as glad as if he was meeting his mother. *' O, how
much you remind me of my mother I Your advice to us
boys is almost in the same words my mother gave me when
I left her ;" and tears spoke louder than words of his ap-
preciation of visits from his mother's representative.
I visited many camps of the freedmen, where there
were two thousand, with daily additions. Forty came into
Bethel Camp one afternoon. I went among them, aud
said to the man I met first :
"You concluded to use your freedom in coming into
the Union camps?"
" Freedom !" looking up in surprise.
" Yes; you know President Lincoln has proclaimed all
slaves free."
" Is dat so?"
" Certainly; you have heard about it, I suppose.''
"No, missus, we never hear nothing like it. We 's
starving and we come to get somfin' to eat. Dat's what
we come for. Our people home tell us Yankees want
niggers to kill ; an' da boils 'em up in great caldrons to
eat, 'case da 's starvin'. But all de white men gone into
de army, an' ler us all wid missus , an' da locks de bacon
up for de sojers, an' gib us little han'ful o' meal a day, an'
we 's got weak an' trimlily. An' I tole my people we 's
gwine to die anyhow, an' we 'd try de Yankees."
They were all so surprised at the idea of freedom that
they could hardly credit the fact until their own people
confirmed what I had told them. Batious were given to
ADDRESS AT CAMP. 265
that hungrj company at oucc I told them thifl did not
look like killing oiT colored people.
''No, missus, dis 'pears like makin' alive, instead of
killin'. God bless sich people as dese, if dis be Yankees."
A couple of young men followed me from tent to tent,
as I was reading portions of Scripture, and advising them
how to live in their new relation as a free people. I ad-
vised them to live soberly and honestly in the sight of all
men; that our Heavenly Father looks upon all his chil-
dren alike, and that our Lord and Savior died upon the
cross for ail alike, because he is no respecter of persons.
The young men asked to be excused for following me;
"for," they said, "we never heard white folks talk like
you talks in our life. Da never talks for our own good;
an' dis is so new we wants to ax you please excuse us."
Our head -quarters were most of the time at Camp \
Bethel ; but I spent a portion of my time in Camp Shiloh, -
which was in sight. On the Sabbath I attended a very
large meeting in a grove of pecans, oaks, and magnolias.
The minister was a colored man of considerable intelli-
gence, could read quite well; and perhaps there were
nearly or quite one hundred of our. soldiers in attendance.
I spoke to one man near the staud while they were sing-
ing, informing him that I would like to make a few re-
marks if their minister was willing. The minister said,
before dismissing the congregation, he would give liberty
for a white lady present to speak. " I do not know who
she is. She may be here inquiring for some of her people;
J>ut we can tell better as to her object when we hear her;"
and he invited me forward.
I saw at once the mmister took me to be one of those
slave-holders who were coming into their camp almost daUy
to persuade their slaves back, though not one of them ever
succeeded. I told them my object was to inquire after the
health of this people, body, soul, and spirit — and my peo-
ple were all who accept salvation through our Lord and
23
266 A woman's wfe-work.
Savior Jesus Christ ; that our Heavenlj Father made all
the nations of the Avhole earth of one blocxl, and never de-
signed that one race should hold another in bondage. I
had hardly finished my first sentence before the minister
and those near him were urging me to step to the top
of their platform , as I had only taken one or two steps
forward. ** Come up here; our people all want to see
you,** I had to obey. Ten minutes' talk did not satisfy.
The minister and others in that large congregation bade
me go on ; and ten or fifteen minutes more were occupied.
At the close a few hundred of those whose families had
been broken up by cruel separations came to me, and many
tears were coursing down the sable cheeks of many gath-
ered around me to shake my hands, which were actuUy
lame and swollen for three days after.
Said the disappointed minister, '* It 'pears like an angel
dropjicd down 'mongst us, in place of the slave-missus
come for her people."
Said one woman: ''My ole missus come las' week to
get all fifty -five of us back again, and she tried mighty
hard to get us to go back wid her. Den she went to
General Grant, an' he. say, ' If your people want to go
back they may^ Den she try us again; but not one
would go, 'case we knows her too well — she 's mighty hard
on us. Den she went back to the general, an' be^ed an'
cried, and hel' out her ban's, and say, ' General, dese ban's
never was in dough — ^I never made a cake o' bread in my
life ; please let me have my cook.' An' she tuck on so I
jus' trimble ; I 's feared he 'd tell me to go wid her. But
all her crj^in' did n't help her. General say, * I can 't help
you, madam ; if your cook wants to go wid you she can ;
but she is free, an' can do as she likes about it.' An' she
went ofTcrj'in'; an' we could jus' kiss de grouu' General
Grant walks on ever since."
Among the most affecting scenes were meetings of
members of families long separated. In passing out of
MARRIAGE AT CAMP. 267
thifl multitude my attention was attracted to a group who
were singing, shaking hands, shouting, and reciting their
afflictions and sore trials since they were parted. Or.e
woman found her sister, who was sold from her fifteen
years before. They had not heard from each other till
just here they met. "O sis' Susie, you know my two nice
boys was sole from me two year afore I was sole off dat
plantation down de river, an' it '})eared like my heart was
broke ; an' missus had me hit fifty lashes 'case I cried so
much. An' de Lo'd has been my sun an shiel' all dis
time. An* here I foun' my two boys; da's heap bigger,
but da's my own dear boys. I *s prayed long for freedom,
an' God did come down and make us free. Ghry, Glory
be to his name!''' And they embraced each other in wild
excitement during some minutes. Then they went to
another part of the camp to meet some of their friends
Susie told her of.
I hastened back to Camp Bethel, to witness the mar-
riage of twenty couples that Colonel Eaton, who was a
chaplain among them, was to marry with one ceremony.
Many of the men were of the newly-enlisted' soldiers, and
the officers thought they had better be legally married,
although many of them had been married a number of
years, but only according to slave law, which recognized
no legal marriage among slaves. At the appointed hour
the twenty couples stood in a row, each couple with right
hands clasped; and among them one young couple, that
being their first marriage. All gave affirmative answers
at the same time ; first the men, then the women. After
the ceremony Chaplain Eaton offered an earnest prayer,
all kneeling. Then he shook hands with them to signify
his congratulations, and I followed him in like manner.
It was a novel scene, and yet solemn.
On the morning I was to leave Memphis I saw an old
woman wringing the bottom of her cotton dress a few rod'
from the door. I inquired how her dress came so w
268 A woman's i^ife-work.
half a yard deep. *' I come up in a leaky skifT W night
\fid six hoys dat de oberseer whip de Yaukee out, he say;
an' da say da go to Yankees now any how, an' I begged
'em to let me come, for da knows I has sich hard times.
But da say, ' Aunt Peggy, de skiff leak so had.' But I
tole 'em I 's comin' wid a basin, an' I reckon I dip &s'
enough to keep us 'bove water. An' da let me come, an'
it tuck all night to come seven miles up de river. Dar
was forty of us on dis plantation. Massa is a big man in
Socesh army, an' sent more 'n a hundred of our people
'way off to de big plantation : an', missus, da all wants to
come mighty bad, an' begged us to go see de big man
right soon, an' tell him da wants to do any thing he wants
'em to do, if he will only let 'em come.' For missus is
mighty rich, an' do n't need us, 'case she 's got barrels of
meal, an' flour, an' plenty bacon in de smoke-housc, da
keeps locked up, da say for de Secesh sojers. An' missus
had us put a tin trunk of gole an' silver money, an' a big
ches' of all her silver plate way up in de loF few days ago.
Missus, do please go tell de big man how da all begged us
so hard to ax him, soon as we got here, if he '11 let 'em
come."
I told her I would see the colonel, and inquired for the
boys who came with her. She pointed to the six young
men standing outside our door. I approached the young
men, who were between twenty and thirty years of age,
and shook hands with them, saying, *' It seems your over-
seer did n't succeed in whipping the Yankee out of 3'ou
night before last"
**No, indeed," said one; "he drove in the Yankee
deeper every lick ;" and another said, " I reckon he 11 find
out this momin' how much Yankee he whipped out."
I informed Colonel Eaton of his new comers ; and of
the earnest appeal of the old woman in behalf of the re-
maining thirty-three, and how she backed her pleading,
vith enumerating the abundance of every thing her mift-
TRANSPORTATION SECURED. 269
tress possessed. He said he would see General Veach, and
he might conclude to send a gun-boat fur them.
On May 17, 1863, I called at Dr. Warrener's office on
my way to General Veach's office for transportation to
Cairo, but designed calling at Island No. 10 and Colum-
bus, Kentucky. The doctor kindly offered to take my
papers and get transportation and pass from the provost
marshal for me, and allow me to rest the while. I was
glad to accept the favor ; but he soon returned, rather dis-
couraged, and said, ** I think the general rather cross to-
day, and I do n't know whether you 11 get transportation
or not. After reading your papers he asked where you
were, and I told him you looked tired and were resting in
my office, and I offered to do this errand for her, as it
would save her a mile of walk. ' I 'd like to see the lady,'
he said, as he handed back your papers ; and you 11 have
to go and see him." Here was another narrow place. I
took my papers to General Yeach in haste, as tliere was a
boat which I was anxious to take going up the river that
afternoon. I entered his office and handed him my papers,
telling him I hoped to receive the favor of an order for trans-
portation to Cairo, with the privilege of stopping at Island
Ko. 10 and Columbus. He neither asked me a question nor
opened my papers, but threw them to his clerk, with direc-
tions to give the order. Then he sent it to the quarter-
master to filL On my return I called on the provost-mar-
shal and secured my pass. Said the doctor, '' What did
the general say?"
" Nothing," I answered ; ** he only looked at me when
I gave him my papers, and passed them over to his clerk
to make the order."
*' I think he might just as well have sent them by me;
but the general had n't seen a Union woman for so long,
he just wanted to take a look at one."
I was soon on the steamer that took me from this city
of many exciting scenes. Here I learned the sequel of
270 A avoman's life-work.
my Tennessee correspondents, formerly mentioned, and waa
sIlowu the house where they had both kin dead men.
I found on the island many waiting for the remainder of
my supplies. The number in camp had now reached about
3,000. I also spent a little time at Fort Pillow, where a
company of ex-«laves, thirty-seven in number, had just
made their escape from their old home. They had trav-
eled all night to get to our lines. They took two mules
and two carts to bring their bundles and little folks. Men,
women, and larger children w^alked twenty-five miles, to
get to Fort Pillow. "What time did- you start?" I asked
one of the tired women. ** Early moonrise," was the re-
ply. That was about 11 o'clock P. M., and they had made
all possible speed to get to our lines, and seemed very much
pleased to get clear of pursuers, as some in their neighbor-
hood had been shot and killed in their attempt to come.
The officers took charge of the mules and carts, and sent
the people to Island No. 10. Here I took a steamer for
Columbus.
After landing I saw a funeral procession of colored peo-
ple, and a numl^cr of officers and soldiers. I joined the
procession, and learned it was the only son of a slave
mother who, two days previously, had left their planta-
tion. He had heard that colored men were accepted as
soldiers, and was exceedingly anxious to enlist. AVheu
they were nearly half across the river their young master
reached the bank and bade them return or he'd shoot
them; but the son pulled for the opposite shore, when a
ball passed through his right arm, breaking the bone above
the elbow. The mother took the oars and pulled with all
her might, when a second ball entered the lungs of the
son. They were met by a few of onr soldiers, who took
him from the skiff to the hospital, where he received the
best surgical attendance, but without avail. Much sym-
pathy was manifested in behalf of the bereaved mother,
^o was left with two little girls. Bereavement waa no
THE TABLKS TURNED. 271
new trial for her. .Her husband had been sold from her a
few years before. I asked her if these three children were
all her &mily. '' O, no, honey; I had two big boys sold
jus* afore the war. Do n't know whar they went. An'
now my poor boy is shot dead by that young massa I
nussed with my own boy. They was both babies together.
AGssus made me nuss her baby, an* set her little ^1 to
watch me, for fear I 'd give my baby too much, no matter
how hard he cried. Many times I was n't allowed to take
him up, an' now that same boy has killed mine," and she
buried her face in her fiided calico apron until it was wet
with tears. A soldier told me a large company of them
were only waiting permission from their commander to go
to that plantation and strip it. He said she seemed to be
such a nice woman; that they all felt so indignant they
hardly knew how to wait for orders.
From this sad scene, walking to the Soldier^s Home, my
attention was arrested on seeing a white man with a ball
and chain attached to his ankle, with brick and his ball
in the wheelbarrow, wheeling toward the soldier^s camp,
guarded by a black soldier. As I stood looking at the
black sold)^ walking leisurely beside the white man in
irons, an o£Scer accosted me with, "Madam, that prisoner
you see wheeling brick to our camp is a strong secessionist,
and was a hard master over a large plantation with more
than one hundred slaves, and he was taken prisoner, and
all his slaves came into our camp. The younger men
enlisted as soldiers, and that man made an attempt to
escape and we put him in irons and set a black soldier,
who had been his own slave, to guard him."
"What a turning of tables!" I said.
"Yes, you will find the same turning of tables within
our lines idl over the South."
At the door of a tent I saw a large, square block of
iron, weighing sixty or eighty pounds, to which was attached
a ring. I inquired of a colored man what it was for.
272 A woman's ijfe-work.
"That belonged to our plan tation^. and when majBter
had a mind to punish us he onlered us locked to that
block, and from one to a dozen of us sometimes were locked
to it with a long chain; and when we hoed corn we'd hoe
the chain's length, then the one next the block had it to
tote the length of the chain, and so on till we did our
day's work. Since wo've been here we've seen nine of our
masters chained to that same block and made to shovel
sand on that fortification yonder. There were forty of us
that belonged to our plantation standing in this yard look-
ing on."
"How did you feel to witness such a scene?"
"O, I can't tell you, madam; but I cried like a baby."
"Why did you cry?"
"O, to think what great things God is doing. Man
could never, never do it."
" Did the others feel as you did?"
" O no, some laughed, and one man said, ^Ab ha, you
see now how sweet 'tis to tote the old block, do n't you V "
"Did he say that in his hearing?"
"O no, we's five rods off."
There were a number of houses burned down> May 28th,
three miles beyond our Imcs. Mrs. Somautha Plumer in-
quired of Curlie, one of our boys of the home, if he would
take us to that biggest house burning on the Moss planta-
tion. No sooner was the suggestion made than Curlie got
his ambulance ready for us, and we were soon in front of the
smoldering mansion. The 2)roprietor was raking over the
debris for gold and silver or other imperishable tr^ure.
Among the ashes were hand-cufTs, chains, shackles, and
other slave-irons. He was occupying one of his slave
cabins, as the long row was vacated by seventy of his
former slaves. He was said to be one of the wealthiest
planters in Kentucky. One year previous to the war, report
"^^d he lost seven valuable slaves, and one from each of
^ adjoining plantations escaped at the same time. After
AN OUTRAQB AVENGED. 273
a consultation over their loss they placed the blame of
their escape on a carpenter from Illinois, ^ho had been a
few weeks working at his trade in their midst To ho
avenged on the poor carpenter, a band of men came upon
him in the night, took him out of bed, gave him a coat of
tar and feathers, and treated him to a ride on a rail-horse.
Then they furnished him with soap and lard with which
to disrobe himself, and charged him to leave the State
within twelve hours, never to be seen there again, or a
calamity &r exceeding this would be his portion. All his
assertions that he knew nothing whatever of their slaves
were of no avail. He left the State as requested, but
wrote back to the chief leader. Moss, that if an opportunity
ever presented he would be avenged on those who had
heaped upon him these abuses. Mr. Moss said he saw
that same carpenter a few days previous to the house-
burning, with three other men, in soldier's dress, but he
did not believe he was. a soldier, but only in borrowed
clothes, as he did not think a Union soldier would do so
mean a thing. An officer remarked, however, that he was
a hard master and a firm secessionist, but was now very
tame. On our way back Curlie informed us that he had
taken us three miles beyond our lines, and we were very
near being caught just opposite the line at the firing of tho
sundown gun. But with Curlie's earnest pleading the
guards consented to allow us to cross the line.
In one cabin there were two quite intelligent mulatto
women, better clad than any I had met in the camp, one
of whom was the mother of three fine-looking children. I
remarked to one of them that they had a better chance for
life than others I had seen, and inquired how long they
had been within our lines. .
One of them answered, ''Only ten days. Thar was
thirty-three when we left our plantation seven miles below
Memphis, 'bout three weeks ago, but some of oiu: peoplf^
stopped at Memphis when we came up the riven"
274 A woman's life-work.
As I was interested in her recital, she became more
excited in giving details, and said:
** Mistess got mighty feared of black smoke, an' watched
boats mighty close. One day. as she was settin' on the
S0& she say, * Mill, I reckon thar's a gunboat comin'; see
de black smoke ; an' if they do come, I reckon they won't
fin' that trunk o' money, an' ches' of silver plate you put
up in the lof t'other day.' Lookin' out for the boat, 'Yes
tlmt 's a gunboat sure. Now, if the Yankees do stop, you
all run and hide, won't jouV I looked too, but didn't
answer till I see the big rope ilung on the banL An'
mistess got wild-like. 'Yes, they are stoppin'. Mill an'
Jule run, tell all the niggers in the quarters to run to the
W(kk1s au' hide; quick, for they kills niggers. MjII, why
do u*t you go r I said, * I ain't feared the Yankees.' 'Jule,
you run and tell all the niggers to run to the woods, quick.
Yes, here they are coming, right up to the house. Now,
Mill, you won't go with them, will you ?' As the men had
started for the house I felt safe, and said, ' I '11 go if I have
a chance.' 'Jule, you won't go, will youf *I shall go
if Mill goes.' Bhe began to wring her hands and cry.
*Now, 'member I brought you up. You won't take your
children away from me, will you, MHIV 'Mistess, I shall
take what childcm I've got kr. 'If they fine that trunk
o' money or silver plate you 11 say it's your'n, won't you?*
'Mistess, I can't lie over that; you bo't that sQver plate
when you sole my three children.' ' Now, Jule, you 11 say
it 's youm, won't you ?* ' I can 't lie over that either.' An'
she was cryin' an' wringin' her ban's, an' weavin' to an' fro
as sho set thar. ' Yes, here they come, an' they 11 rob me
of every thing. Now, 'member I brought you up.' Here
come in four sojers with swords hangin' to their sides, an'
never looked at mistess, but said to me, 'Auntie, you want
to go with us?' 'Yes, sir,' I said, an' they look to Jule an'
say, 'You want to goV 'Yes, sir.' 'Well, you can all
r an' hurry, for we shall stay but a little while.' An'
PROPERTY OONPISC^ATED. 275
Jule jiis* flew to the quarters, an' they all tied up beds an'
every thing, an' tote 'em down to the gunboats in a hurry.
An' two sojers went up-stairs an' wa'n't gone but a few
minutes, an' don't you think here they oome, with that tin
trunk o' money an' ches' of silver plate, an' broke 'em open
an' tuck out a big platter an' water-pitcher an' a few other
pieces an' say, *See here, Tom, haven't we foun' a prize of
solid silver for gov'ment,' an' he put it all back. An' another
open the trunk, ' O, see here, Jim ; see what a mine of money
we foun' for General Veach,' as he tuck up a han'ful of gole
an' silver money an' sir it through his fingers, droppin' in
the trunk, sayin', 'Ain't we got a pile o' money for gov'-
ment.' An' he han' it over to a sojer to tote to the gunboat
An' two ov 'em went down cellar an' come back with stone
jars of butter, an* pezerves, an' opened 'em. * Tom, see here,
what a lot of goodies we got; won't we live well?' An' he
covered 'em up agin an' toted 'em to the gunboat. Then
they broke open the meal-room, ab' rolled mtt bttvelg of
meal and flour, saved for seeesh sbjen, an'^foiled em down
to the gunboat. An', last of all, they went to the moke
house, an' broke it open an' got a lot of bacon. *Now,
auntie, you all ready,' they say? *Yes, sir,' I tell 'eau^
* Here's a roll of linsey for our cloze, shall we take it?*
'Certainly, an' any thing else you'r a mine to.' As we
started for the door mistess followed us cryin' an' wringin'
her ban's. 'Now, Mill an' Jule, I know you'll sufler when
you leave mc' One o' the sojers turn to her and said,
' They won't sufler again a^ they have done with you.' An'
this was the firs' words she spoke after they come in, an'
the firs' they said to her. An' we all got on the boat in a
hurry; an' when we's fairly out in the middle of the river,
we fdl give three times three cheers for the gunboat boys,
and three times three cheers for big Yankee sojers, an*
three times three cheers for gov'ment; an* I tell you every
one of us, big and little, cheered loud and long and stroma
an* made the old river just ring ag^in."
276 A woman's life-work.
She became so excited she acted the part of her mis-
tress admirably in the half-beut, whining, crying, and
wringing of hands, as she followed them to the door.
'* How did you feel about that silver plate that was
bought with the price of your three children? Did n't you
think you ought to have it?''
' * O no, I could n't touch it. It was part o' my poor
dear childern ; but I did n't want mistess to keep it. I
was glad to see it go to gov'ment."
The tears coursed down her care-worn cheeks as she
related the sale of her three older children.
''I fell upon my Jcnees afore master an' mistess, an'
begged 'em not to sell my poor childern down the river,
whar I could never see or hear from 'em any more. But
master say it 's none o' my business, an' I should stop my
noise, or he'd have me punished. An' mistess say she
won't have all this cryin' round her. ' Your childern be-
longs to us, an' you kufbw it; an' it's not for you to make
all Jthi«» fuss over it;-ettfaer.' I said, * Mistess, would n't you
grieve over your childern, if somebody take 'em from you?'
'You hush your sauce, or I'll have you punished. That's
another thing ; my childern 's white.' An' then they had
me punished."
Her husband was sent, with many others, to what they
called the *' big plantation," in the interior. She said her
master was a '* big man" in the secesh army. I found
they called all officers big men. After she finished her
story I told her I saw the seven she said went to Memphis,
a few days before they left, and how Aunt Peggy begged
me so hanl to tell the big man that they all wanted to
come. And to impress me with the idea that the mistress
could do without slaves, she told me about the trunk of
money and chest of silver plate ; but I had no more idea
of its being confiscated than had Aunt Peggy in her appeaL
My attention from this episode was arrested by another
ne of a difierent character, but truly revolting — ^a young
POST HOSPITALS. 277
mother of only fourteen years, with a very sick infant,
pole and emaciated herself; the grandmother of a very
light complexion, and the great -grandmother a mulatto.
AH these four generations were the children of their old
master, whose hair was white with age. He was the &thcr
of the great -grandmother, and of each generation to the
fi>urth, and viaster, all in one. As revolting as this fact
was, I was compelled to believe it, as his former slaves told
me of his licentious character from his early youth to
eighty years. He was never married, and was the owner
of a large plantation, and his many slaves sought the first
op]X)rtunity to make their escape. The condition of these
women was truly ap|)alling, and the history of their base
and degraded master and father too revolting for the public
eye or car ! I turned away wiA utter disgust at their re-
citals. The child soon died, and I thought it seemed a
pity that its demented mother could not have gone with
it; but I did what I could to relieve their wants.
The hospitals at this post were tolerably well cared
for, except one regimental hospital, where were a number
of sick and emaciated soldiers, who had no pillows but
tiieir haversacks, and no covering but their overcoats, and
they piteously begged for milk. I went to their surgeon,
and inquired whether boiled milk would not be allowed for
those men who were so low with camp diarrhea, and
whether I could not bring them quilts and pUlows.
*' Madam, you can bring them milk, or any thing you 've
named; but I tell you, if you undertake to listen to all
these soldiers' teasing, you 'U have your hands full. As
like as not, any way, they 11 trade whatever you give them
for whisky the first chance they have." I could not sleep
until I secured the aid of two soldiers to go with me to
carry milk, pillows, and quilts for those sick men. Their
tears of gratitude, as I handed each his bottle of milk, and
placed a pillow under their heads, and a quilt for those who
had only an overcoat for a covering, paid me well. I r
278 A WOMAN^S LIFE-WORK.
turned to the Soldiers' Home quite relieved, but wearied
and sick, Avitli a severe cough, that had followed me for
more than a month. I found it necessary to hasten home
to rest.
I left this field of sufiering and constant excitement
May 30th, for dear home and anxious children and friends.
A few days' rest restored health and strength, but we
were not relieved from excitement. Our principal, E. A.
Haight, enlisted SQon after closing the Spring term of our
school. Preparation for another school-year was before me,
beside the necessity of calling on friends in various places for
supplies. I was informed by officers that I could now
secure passes and transportation for an assistant as readily
OS for myself alone. My school vacation was fully occu-
pied in preimring for the following academic year, and in
looking for a congenial companion to share with me in
this work, — one who was willing to sacrifice all upon our
country's altar.
EETUEN TO THE SOUTH. '^ 279
Chapter XI.
SANITARY WORK.
We found a necessity for organized work, and formed
a Freedmen's Belief Association, in Detroit, with Captain
E. B.Ward, president; Rev. William Webb, yice-president;
Benjamin C. Duriee, secretary; and FrancLs Baymond,
treasurer. These did what they could in gathering sup-
plies in that dty for me to take South the coming Autumn.
Brother Aldrich was engaged to act as principal of Baisin
Institute, and this gave me leisure to hold meetings in
towns and county school-houses for soliciting help for my
Southern work. During vacation our two halls were made
ready for opening the Academic Year, as usual, on the first
Wednesday in September, 1863-4. The school, though
smaller than before the war, opened with fair prospects,
and I felt at liberty to leave. The institution, being in
competent hands, I obtained as a companion in labor one
of the most devoted of Christian woman, my dear sister,
LetitiaJBackus, of Pittsford, Michigan. With a car-load of
supplies we left our homes for fields of greatest sufifering,
where least help was found. Well furnished with docu-
ments from our governor, Austin P. Blair, and two
members of Congress, we secured passes to Chicago and
return, tlien to Cairo and return, and from thence to Vicks-
burg, Mississippi. Waiting a few days at Cairo, for our
supplies to reach us, we 'visited the hospitals and camps.
Here we met a company of men who were called ''Jay-
hawkers.'' They were all tall, large men. One of these
carried the treasure-bag, but I do not think he was a Judas
to the government A pillow-case was nearly half full of
gold and silver watches, diamonds, and gold jewelry, whic^
<r
280 A WOMAN^S LIPE-WOBK.
they said was confiscated for the govemmeut They said
wealth gave the rebelUon strength, no matter in what it
consisted.
After the arrival of our supplies we took a steamer
down the Mississippi, and stopped a short time at Colum-
bus. A little before landing I discovered an Irish woman
had in her possession a six-quart tin pail of whisky, and
a gallon jug that she seemed very careful to keep out of
sight under the sofa ; I took a seat by her side, and knew
I could not be mistaken as to the contents of her pail and
jug, and as I understood it was a forbidden article, I pen-
ciled on the margin of my official paper to the inspector
to look well to the whisky the woman at my side had in
her possession. As he came to inquire for my baggage to
inspect, I told him where he would find it, and he would
see by my papers what were their probable contents.
Taking a look at the lady by my side, as he handed back
my papers he remarked, ** I think I '11 not take the trouble
to inspect your baggage, as I see you are all right." As
we were going ashore, my red-shawled companion carefully
gathered her pail and jug under her shawl at each side of
her, and hurried to bury herself in the crowd. The in-
spector followed closely, and as he took hold of the pail to
see what she had hanging on her arm, in her effort to get
away from him it fell on the cabin carpet As the cover
came off we had quite a shower of whisky about our feet.
At this the jug was seized by the inspector, amid shouts of
'* (rood, good," and the laughter of the crowd, with mutteiv
ing and swearing by the Irish woman. She hastened out
of the crowd, leaving her pail and jug behind her.
At the Soldiers' Home we fodkid Saraantha Plummer
and her excellent assistant The following three dajrs we
spent in visiting hospitals. Hospital No. 2 was miserably
cared for. The matron was a Southern woman, who had
lost her husband in the Confederate army, but she pro-
fessed to be a Union woman, and said her husband would
BADLY KEPT HOSPITAL. 281
neyer have gone on that side but for compulsion. Our
officers seem^ to pity her and her two daughters, and gave
them a home in the hospital. The mother held the posi-
tion of nurse, but not one of the three was a suitable per-
son to be there. The sick and wounded soldiers did not
look as if their beds or apparel had been changed in two
weeks. The floor was filthy, and the scent was sufficient
to sicken well people. From the appearance of the wash-
boiler, running over with dried apples that were being
boiled without care, I judged every thing to be done after
the same style. I inquired of one of the convalescents in
the yard when their supper hour was, and proposed to re-
turn to see how the brethren fared. Sister Backus was
rather fearful I might make matters worse, as they might
suspect we had* an object in revisiting the hospital so soon;
but we were on hand to see the burned and sour biscuits
dealt out to those sick and wounded soldiers, with the half-
stewed apples, and a choice given between rancid butter
and a poor quality of black mdasses. I hoped to see
something better when the pail with a spout appeared^
out of which was turned a substance half way between pud-
ding and porridge. I asked if it was farina. '' It 's com
meal mush," and mush it was, running all through what-
ever was on the plate. I passed from one plate to another,
tasting the biscuits and cutting pieces of apple to see if I
could find one without an uncooked center, but with little
success.
In going around I came to half a dozen of the boys
trying to while the time away with a pack of cards. Hav-
ing an armful of Testaments, I proposed to make an exchange.
This was readily agreed to, as each of them had left his
home with one, but had lost it in battle or storm. I gave
them advice to commit at least one verse from their Testa«
ments daily while in the army, and each promised to do so.
All this time of investigating their supper and making
this bargain, sister Backus was busily engaging the atten-
24
282 A WOMAN^S LIFE-WORK.
tion of the matron. I left that hospital with a heavy
heart, and spent a sleepless night. I told sister Backus I
must remain there until that hospital was renovated. I
wanted to go into it and '' make things fly," right and left,
if there was no other way. In the morning I found the
medical director, and asked if he had visited Hospital No. 2
recently. He said he .had not, but thought the surgeon
having charge of that hospital a very clever sort of a man.
** I think there is not a single officer in that establish-
ment," said I, *' that is at all suitable to be there. Per-
haps that surgeon is too clever. I tell you he is defective,
or he would not allow such a hospital as that under his
charge. But I find I am ahead of myself. You may
take me to be some nervous mother, but I only claim to
be a representative of common-sense women. Here are
papers from the governor of my State, and from two mem-
bers of Congress."
After reading them he said, '' I will take up that hos-
pital within two weeks, I think."
"Two weeks!" I exclaimed; ** many of those soldiers
will die before that time. I can not leave them for two
weeks."
" Then I will tell you what I will do ; I will bring the
sickest ones here to this hospital, and put the rest on a
boat and take them to Mound City, to the United States
Hospital, and take up No. 2 within three days."
''That will do," I said; "I am satisfied with Mound
City Hospital, and with this one. If you will do this I
will go on to-day with our supplies for Vicksburg, Mis-
sissippi."
"Mrs. Haviland, it shall be done within three days,"
he replied, and I left him with a lighter heart.
We went on our way with a number of officers and
soldiers on board. As we were on the boat over Sunday,
~ asked permission of the captain to talk to the soldiers.
^ gave me leave, saying it was a very unsuitable place
OUERILLA ALARM. 283
for ladies on the rear deck, over cattle, sheep, and hogs,
but thej would prepare a place as soon as possible. While
preparation was being made, a youug man who had been
studying for the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, proposed to the captain to address the soldiers.
As he was a minister the captain came and informed mo
that he had granted his request. I told, him I supposed
we could attend. " Certainly, certainly, if you like, only
as I told you, it is on unpleasant place for ladies." Un-
pleasant as it was, we listened to a long sermon, and re-
mained a few minutes longer to give the boys a mother^s
advice, as they were leaving their Northern homes, not to
allow themselves to become demoralized by the many dan-
gers and hardships they would have to endure.
About 8 o'clock the boat stopped a little below Napoleon,
Arkansas, to wood. As it was very dark, our torches were
lighted, and we saw a light advancing so fast on the bank
that I thought it must be borne on horseback. ^* No, it 's
too low," said a woman standing near me. But it went
out as soon as it came to the landing, and our light was
immediately extinguished, the cable was drawn back, the
men leaped aboard, and the boat was wheeled so suddenly
into the stream that there was great danger of bursting
the boiler. We heard many inquiries as to what was the
matter. But the fact ran quickly over the boat that there
were guerrillas after us. The running lantern we saw was
carried by an old white man, who overheard the talk of
more than forty men, who were secreted in a clump of
trees and bushes i^sar the landing. They had planned to
capture the first steamer that stopped to wood at that
place, to take all on the boat as prisoners, strip it of every-
thing on board, and let it float down the river. The old
man told the men not to let it be known, if we were cap-
tured, that he had informed them of this, as it would cost
him his life. Such a scene of excitement I never wit-
nessed; men, as well as women, turned pale, and the*'
284 A woman's life-work.
Yoicee trembled. Yet many of them flew to their card
tables, expectmg every moment to be shot into, and trem-
bling with fear so as hardly to be able to hold their cards.
The captain said if pouring tar into the furnace would
send us beyond a bayou near by before they could over-
take us, he thought we should escape. After passing that
point our colonel came to me and asked after my com-
panion. I told him as she was not well she had retired
very early, and I thought she had better not know any
thing of this excitement until morning, if we should es-
cape ; if not, it was time for her to become excited when
we were taken.
*'How do you feel in such an hour as this?" he
asked.
''The God of Daniel lives at this hour," I answered,
''and in him I trust."
" I see you take it coolly," he replied, and looked sur-
prised. I told him I pitied those card-players, for it was a
hard play for them, while standing face to fiu^e with dan-
ger. " You see it is an effort," he replied, " to keep dan-
ger out of mind as much as possible."
"But see their pale faces and trembling hands. O,
what a poor substitute they have for substantial trust in
an Almighty Power! You see that gentleman and his
wife sitting on the other side of the cabin. They are calm
and perfectly composed ; they, too, have their pocket Bible
in hand. They are trusting children of the Most High, no
doubt." He thoughtfully looked over that crowded cabin
a moment, and walked away.
Very few retired before 12 o'clock, and those men and
women were aU that time making an effort to quiet their
nerves at their card-table. The next morning our colonel
called again with a little joke: "You meet danger so
coolly, I think we had better take you with us to Texas
^or a general."
I was thankful for the improvement in sister Backus's
FREEDMEN IN BATTLE. 285
health by a good nigfafs rest, and that we had escaped.
Without further trouble we reached Vicksburg, but learned
that the loudest cry for aid was in Natchez, and we has-
tened there with our supplies. We were offered a home
with Lieutenant Thirds and fiimily, who had been invited
to occupy rooms at Judge Bullock's. The judge was too
strong a secessionist to take the iron-clad oath of allegiance,
though solicited by his wife; for she feared they might
lose their property by confiscation. To save it, he very
blandly offered his parlor and best rooms in his large
three-story brick house, where we found very comfortable
quarters. Through Colonel Young, we obtained the use
of a good-ffized store on Main Street for our goods, and
the surgeon of the fireedmeu's camp provided for us a small
room near the camp, where were congregated four thou-
sand fireedmen in condemned tents. These tents were so
leaky that, from exposure, after heavy rains and wind, we
had from five to fifteen deaths in a day. Here we found
constant work for head, heart, hands, and feet
But few days elapsed at any time without hearing the
roar of battle near by, and sometimes the doud of blue
smoke met our eye. One battle was fought within two
miles by the negro soldiers, only a few days after the ter-
rible Fort Pillow massacre. They fought desperately. One
of their officers told me they had to command their sol-
diers to stop, and they obeyed only at the point of the
bayonet; for they mowed the enemy down like grass, al-
though they lowered their colors and began to stack their
arms. Their officers told them to stop firing; but a num-
ber of soldiers replied, while reloading, *' They hear no cry
for quarter at Fort Pillow,'' and fired again. But when
the enemy stacked their arms they were peremptorily or-
dered to stop. I did n't blame the boys for feeling as they
did over that awful massacre. But strange as it seems,
not one of our soldiers was killed, or even wounded. There
was a white regiment in reserve, if needed; and the col-
286 A woman's life-work.
•
ored soldiers almost resented the idea that they needed any
assistance whatever.
There was great excitement in the freedmen's camp
that day over their victory. Said one woman, whoee hus-
band and two sons were soldiers in this battle :
" Why did n't you shoot away as loog as one was lefV
" Our officers compelled us to stop."
" I do n't care for that; they need killing every one"
Said I, "You wouldn't kill the women, would you?"
"Yes, I would," she answered; "for they's wusser'n
the men."
" Well, there are the innocent little children — you
would n't kill them, would you?"
Hesitating a little, she said :
" Yes, I would, madam ; for I tell you nits make vermin."
She and all her family had belonged to Judge Bullock's
wife, and she was still living in her little cabin and doing
the work for the family, as she had done heretofore, though
she did not work so hard. She would take the time to do
our washing for us. She ^d Judge Bullock was harder
to please than her mistress; but he was afraid of our sol-
diers, and when Natchez was taken he kept hid in a thicket
of bushes in the garden a number of days. They took his
meals to him when no one was in sight, expecting the
Yankees would kill every man they met; but as he found
it otherwise he came into the house, and now he talked
with us quite freely. Their slaves were mostly house-
servants, and better treated than many others. Judge
Bullock was formerly from the North, and married in the
South, and his wife inherited the slaves. Their cook was
a mulatto, of more than ordinary intelligence, and she
told me of the most terrible scenes of barbarity that she
had witnessed.
The marks of cruelty were in that camp so frequently
xjn — men with broken shoulders and limbs — ^that it was
irt-sickening to listen to the recital of their wrongs.
A SLAVE-MASTER MURDERED. 287
One man I saw with a shred of au ear, and I mquired
how his ear became torn like that. He hesitated to tell
me, but one of his fellow-slaves said it was done by order
of their master ; that he was stripped and fastened bj a
large nail driven through his ear to a tree, and the over-
seer was directed to whip him on his naked body until his
writhings tore his ear out, and that only ended the pun-
ishment. One man by the name of Matthew Lasley,
living within two miles of this city, owned one hundred
slaves, and was his own overseer. He worked his slaves
early and late, and was proverbial for cruelty to them.
They were not half fed or clothed. A few days after he
he had sold the wife and child of his slave Jack, they
were burning log heaps and clearing off a few acres of
new ground. They had worked until about midnight, and
were preparing to '* turn in." Jack had split an armful
of kindling-wood, and was now ready to go to his lonely
hut. Then his utter desolation rolled in upon his mind.
When his master stooped over to light his cigar, the
thought -came to him like a flash to kill him, and then he
too would die, and so would end his bitter days. No sooner
was the thought conceived tlian the act was done. The ax
was buried in Lasley's head; and he sank, a dead man,
without uttering a word. Jack came immediately to
the city, tapped on the window of Dr. Smith's sleeping
apartment, the son-in-law of Lasley, and told him he
wanted him to go at once to the new clearing with him.
When the doctor went out Jack told him that he had
killed his master.
" What did you do it for?"
*' Master sole my wife and chile, an' I do n't want to
live any longer. Now, master, you may shoot me, or take
me to jail, or do any thing you 're a min' to."
"Well, Jack, I know you've had a hard time; but I
shall have to take you to jail, any how, and see what the
court will do."
288 A woman's life-wobk.
After ordering Laflley's body to be taken care of, he
returned to his wife and told her all, and added that he
wondered he had not been killed long before, as it was what
he had looked for. Dr. Smith employed one of the best
lawyers in the city to plead Jack's case, and had all the
Lasley slaves brought into court, not one of whom was
without marks of cruelty — a broken arm or leg, an ear cut
off, or an eye out They were all in a nearly nude condi-
tion, three children under ten years of age entirely so.
The daughter begged her husband to allow better clothes
for them; but the doctor and the lawyer insisted upon
their coming into court With just the clothing provided for
them by their master. The lawyer made an eloquent plea
for Jack, and pointed to the hundred slaves, maimed and
crippled and almost naked, and Jack was acquitted.
Lasle/s extreme cruelty had created a public sentiment in
Jack's &vor, so that unexpectedly to himself his life was
saved. Jack was hunting for his wife and child among
the multitude, but had not yet succeeded in finding them.
Week after week was spent in making personal inves-
tigations, measuring and preparing bundles for those nearly
naked. As new refugees were daily coming in, the officers
found it necessary to organize a new camp over the river,
in the rear of Vidalia, Louisiana, on the Balston planta-
tion. As a few hundred were gathered there we went
over and found them exceedingly destitute. There were
twenty families, mostly of those recently enlisted as sol-
diers. Some of them were almost ready to desert. Said
one, **They say we are free, and what sort of freedom is
this, for us to see our families without a board, shingle, or
canvas to cover their heads? We are concluding to leave
our regiment and build something to shelter our wives and
children. They hav n't got a place to sleep at night except
in the open field." We told them we would make their
%milies our first care, and advised them not to leave,
''pou this they became more calm, and concluded to wait
VISITING THE CAMP. 289
a few days to see whether we would succeed. I went
immediately to the proper officer to make inquiries. He
said he had ordered lumber to be sawed for the purpose of
building barracks for them, and it ought to have been
done by this time. He sent his sergeant to see what was
done toward it, and he soon returned with the report that
the lumber was sawed, as ordered, but had been used for
another purpose. He was sent back with a new order.
Within three days there was a storm of wind, rain, hail,
snow, and sleet, such as had not been known for years.
I spent another sleepless night listening to the wind and
the pelting of hail upon the window-panes. Early in the
morning I went to Captain Thirds and asked for an army
wagon and driver, to take a load of bed-clothes and wear-
ing apparel to the camp for sister Backus to distribute,
and another to go with me across the river to the new
camp on the Balston plantation. The request was readily
granted, and, just as I was ready to start, brother Wright,
a missionary for the other store, a block above ours, came
in great haste to forbid my going in this terrible storm.
'*It IB our duty to stop your going. It is a duty we owe
to your children in Michigan as well as to yourself to veto
this imprudent step.'^
"Your veto is worthless," I said, "unless you will go
with this load to those twenty perishing fiunilies out in the
open field in this pelting storm."
"I know it's awful, but what will they do if you die?"
"I will trust the Lord for my preservation. Unless
some one goes with this load I must go."
" I dare not go; but Mr. Thorn said if I could not hin-
der your going to tell you to drive up to our store and he
would put twenty new army blankets on your load."
"All right," I said. "Driver, go up to that store for
those blankets."
Soon we had an addition to our load that more than
ever resembled a load of hay, and myself buried in it to
26
290 A woman's life-work.
armpita, as I choee to keep my arms out in case of tipping
over. Here came brother Reed, one of the teachers, offer-
ing to aid me ; but he had no pass or transportation, and
no time to get it. I called the attention of a passing
general to my necessity for help, to be able to return
before the firing of the sundown gun. He said if he was
in command he would allow him to go with my load, and
advised him to try it. On we hastened, but met an ambu-
lance that Captain Howe had sent to the new camp for a
sick woman with two small children. It was obliged to
return, not being able to pass through the lines, as the
provost marshal was not to be found. The supposition
was very strong that the lines were closed, as it was the
weakest point in the post, and the smoke of rebel fires was
in sight on Lake Concordia. A battle had been fought
a few days before, and another attack was daily threatened.
The driver and brother Beed were doubting the propriety
of crossing the river. " For if the lines are closed," they
said, 'Hhe President himself would not be permitted to
pass." But I told them as they did not positively know
that the lines were closed, we had better cross.
'' It is your load, and if you say go we shall go," said
brother Beed.
''I say go," was my decision.
Soon we were in front of the provost marshal's office.
But he was not there, and no one knew where he was.
After a long search, in accordance with my plea, some of
the guards discovered and brought him back, reeling, with
his head of long hair thoroughly decorated with feathers
and straws. I met him in his office and read to him my
papers, holding them before his te^ye as I would exhibit a
picture to a two-year old baby. After explaining all, I
made my request to pass his lines with my load of supplies.
"Who— who's there?"
I told him who he was that so kindly offered to aid me
in disbursing these supplies just as I was starting; and that
SUFFERING AT CAMP. 291
a general advised me to take him with my load, as he
would pass him, if in command.
**Well, well, I don' — don't — li-like— this — whole —
whole-sa-sale business."
But I pleaded for those suffering women and children
with all the politeness I was capable of mastering, with
disgust boiling over. With stuttering and mumbling his
dislikes, and shaking his head, with the feathers and straws
waving and nodding in every direction, he took his pen
and scribbled a pass that was difficult to decipher. The
next line of guards hardly knew what to do with it until
I told them the provost marshal was dtunk.
**0, yes, and it's no new trick; go on."
And without further difficulty we reached the group of
Buflerers, who were shivering as if in an ague fit. I threw
to each fiimily two blankets or quilts, and more than forty
children were crawling between them within three minutes.
I gave to each of those twenty women a suit of men's
clothing that day to help them out of this intense suffering.
I gave them also three rag-carpet blankets out of the four
that were sent me by a woman who took up a new rag-
carpet she had just put down, and cut it into four pieces
after listening to the recital of the great suffering in these
camps. She said she should put no more carpets on her
floor as long as the war lasted.
Although I had seen so many marks of cruelty among
these people, yet I said to myself, O that these poor people
had remained in their old homes a little longer I Surely
they can not suffer there like this. A little girl came for
me to go to the old blacksmith-shop used as a temporary
hospital, as her mother thought her brother was dying,
and another brother was very sick. I entered that shop,
and listened to the groans of the dying. I repeated to
myself, O that they had waited a little lohger! Four men
and the little son of the distressed mother that sent fur
nie were evidently dying, and four others were sick with
/
292 A woman's life-work.
pneumonia. The mother of these two sick boTS was doing
all she could for them all. I gave her ground mustard to
make poultices, and ginger for those who liad chills, and
told her how to use them. I had a few pounds of each,
and generally took a little package with me, especially
after a storm. This miserable shelter leaked but little,
but one side and one end were so open that we could throw
a hat through the wall.
y I saw a pile of irons by the door. Placing my foot on
a queer double-jointed ring, I said :
** I wonder what that queer sort of a ring could liave
been used for," looking toward the old dilapidated cotton-
gin near by.
''That's a neck-iron," said an old woman standing
near me.
** A neck-iron! What do you mean?"
" Why, it *s an iron collar to wear on the neck."
''But you are certainly mistaken," said I, picking it
up ; " you see these joints are riveted with iron as large as
my finger, and it could never be taken off over one's head."
"But we knows; dat's Uncle Tim's collar. An' he
crawled off in dat fence -corner," pointing to the spot,
"an' died thar, an' Massa George had his head cut off to
get de iron off."
"Is it possible for a human being to become so brutal
as to cut a man's head off when he is dead V
She looked as if she thought I doubted her word, and
Baid : " It did n't hurt Uncle Tim when he was dead as
it did when de iron wore big sores way down to de bone,
and da got full o' worms afore he died. His neck an' head
all swell up, an' he prayed many, many prayers to God to
come and take him out his misery."
" How long did he wear it?"
"'Bout two years."
" Two years! It is impossible for any one to live that
^ngth of time with this rough heavy iron."
SLAVE IRONS (IN POSSESSION OF THE AUTHOR),
SI^VE-IRON8. 293
" We work two seasons, any how, over in dat cotton-
fielV' pointing to the two-hundred-acre cotton-field at our
right
I took up another iron, and inquired, '^ What sort of
an iron is this?"
''A knee-fitifTener, to w'ar on de leg to keep 'em from
runnin' off in dat swamp," pointing to the dark swamp
bordering Lake Concordia, so fully draped with long South-
ern moss that in many places in it nothing could be dis-
covered three feet in the thicket.
I went to the rear of the shop, with the ring under
my shawL Hero stood a dozen or more of old and crip-
pled men and women.
"Did any of this company,** I asked, "live on this
plantation before the war?"
" Yes, missus, six of us live here. I live here seven year."
I drew out the collar, and asked if any one could tell
me what that was. One looked at another, and asked
where I found it
" In that pile of irons by the door," I replied.
One said, in a low tone, " Dat's Uncle Tim's collar."
" Yes, missus, dat is iron collar to wear on de neck."
** But you see it is fastened with heavy iron rivets."
" Yes, de way you see it is 'case Massa George Balston
order Uncle Tim's head cut off to get de collar."
"I want this collar," I said, "and another heavy iron
a woman called a knee^ffener. This plantation is con-
fiscated, and these irons belong to you as much as to any
body. Will you give them to me?"
Each seemed to wait for the others to speak, but the
one to whom I had mostly directed my conversation at
length replied:
"I reckon you can have 'em; for we's had all we
wants ov 'em."
" I thank you ; and if you can find any other slave-irons
in that pile I wish you would pick them out for me to
294 A woman's life-work.
take home to MichigaD, to show what sort of jewelry the
colored people had to wear down here."
They turned over the heap, and found iron horns,
hand-cu£EB, etc., and explained how they were worn. They
showed me also where the iron rod upon which was sus-
pended a bell was cut off of Uncle Tim's collar.
Among the group waa a crippled man walking with two
canes, clad in tattered cotton clothes, that were hanging in
frozen strings from his arms like icicles. I selected a whole
suit for him, and a soldier's overcoat. He stepped in the
rear of a cabin and changed, and came to me weeping.
** I come to show you," he said ; *' dis is de best dressin'
1*8 ever had in my life. An' I thanks you, an' praise God.**
As we were standing on the bank of the river waiting
for the return of the ferry on her last trip that day, there
were thirty or forty men waiting, who by their favorite
gray appeared to be rebel citizens ; but our many bristling
bayonets kept them in subjection. The ferry soon took us
over the river, and we were within our post before the
sundown gun was fired.
As I had brought the sick woman and two little chil-
dren that Captain Howe had sent his ambulance for in the
morning, in one wagon, I must go to his hospital with
them. This made us so late that the guard said I could not
be allowed to enter the camp without a permit from the
officer of the night I told him where I had been all day
without a fire ; and as he knew the storm had continued
until late in the afternoon, and this sick woman whom the
captain had sent for could not get through the Imes in the
morning, I hoped he would read my papers. He held up
his lantern to see them ; but as soon as he caught sight of
• my old portfolio he said, ** Go on, I know who you are;
I 've seen that before." I was permitted to leave my sick
family in the hospital, and drove the two miles to our
head -quarters by eight o'clock. Although very much
chilled, I felt relieved, notwithstanding I had witnessed
REBEL REGIMENT BROUGHT IN. 295
such scenes of suffering and dying during that event-
ful day.
One morning the little drummer -boy of twelve years
of age marched into camp with seven men that he had
taken prisoners, ragged and almost barefooted. The suf-
fering men were glad. to find comfortable quarters. Occa-
sionally we found them tamely submitting to be taken, on
account of their sufferings for want of food and clothing.
One entire company, who suffered themselves to be cap-
tured, -told our officers if they would allow them to wear
out of sight some sort of a Union mark, so as not to
meet with trouble from our soldiers, they would go and
bring in their entire regiment, as they all wanted to come
into our lines. They were furnished with a badge of na-
tional colors to wear under their coats. Soon the whole
regiment were with us. One of our officers said they were
among our most efficient helps. One of them told me if
they had known the real object of the war they would
never have gone into it ; for more than half of them had
never owned a slave, and tliose who did were better off
without them. They were surprised to find an abundance
of supplies. They had always been told that all the dif-
ference between the Northern people and their slaves was
the color of their skin.
There waa great excitement during the last presiden-
tial campaign. The slave passed through terrible experi-
ences during 1860-61. It seemed to be accepted as a
settled iact, that if Lincoln was elected it would result in
war; and in many places regular drills were instituted.
In Natchez the half-grown slave boys got together on Sun-
day afternoons, and drilled with sticks for guns. At first
it attracted no particular attention, and the boys became
as expert in handling their stick guns as were their masters.
Two slave men were overheard repeating what their mas-
ter said, that if Lincoln wa.s elected he would free all the
slaves, for he was a Black Bepublican ; and they declared thr
296 A woman's life-work.
if this was true they would go to the Yankees and help to
free, their nation. This talk was sufficient to raise the re-
port of an insurrection throughout all that part of the
State, and a large vigilance committee was organized to
meet once a week and report what they might hear by
listening outside the negro cabins. All slave men or boys
who were overheard to pray for freedom, or to say any
thing indicating a desire to be free, were marked ; and in
the discussions of this large committee of a hundred men,
every thing that had occurred during a few years past, in
efforts among the slaves to learn to read and write, was
magnified and construed as pointing toward a long and set-
tled purpose among the slaves to rise in insurrection. A
majority of this committee decided by whipping and other tor-
ture to compel confessions from all these marked slaves, and
then to hang them. A number of the committee resigned
because they would not consent to these severe measures.
Many negroes were dragged out of their cabins or yards
without knowing the cause, stripped, tied to the whipping
post or taken to the calaboose, and given as many lashes
as could be endured. At the close of each whipping the suf-
ferer was called upon to make a full revelation of every sen-
tence that he or she had heard in favor of liberty, or of the
Yankees, among their people, either in conversation or
prayer, and by whom, with a promise to be released fix>m
further punishment. Never was one released, but on Sat-
urday generally ten or twelve of these sufierers were thrown
into a wagon and conveyed to the gallows, where they
were placed in a row, and all were hanged at the same
instant.
Some hundreds were thus hanged in the edge of the
city, and on an adjoining plantation. I carefully investi-
gated the facts, and gathered the following statement from
both white and colored citizens. I have good reasons for
placing entire confidence in its correctness. A large num-
er of slaves were hanged, owned by the following i)er8ons :
NEGROES HANGED. 297
Frauk Susetts, 26 ; James Susetts, 7 ; Dr. Stanton, 8 ;
Dr. Moseby, 26 ; widow Albert Dunbar, 48 ; Mrs. Brady,
12; widow E. Baker, 28; Mrs. Alexander, 16; Dr. George
Baldwin, 8; Stephen Odell, 5; O. Grafton, 5; James
Brown, 3 ; Mr. Marshall, 1 ; Mr. Bobinson, 2 ; Melon Da-
vis, 1 ; widow Absalom Sharp, 3 ; Miss Mary Dunbar, 3 ;
Joseph Beynolds, 2 ; Baker Bobinson, 3 ; Lee Marshall,
whipped to death 1 ; Mrs. Chase, whipped to death 1 ; a
total of 209.
I was told by a number of persons, both white and
colored, that there were over four hundred tortured to
death in this reign of terror, before Natchez fell into Union
hands, but I put in my diary only such as I found were
proven to be &cts.
Miss Mary Dunbar was very much distressed over the
loss of one of her three slaves who were hanged, and of-
fered the vigilance committee ten thousand dollars for his
release, but to no purpose. Joseph Beynolds also offered
the committee $100,000 for the release of his two, but was
denied. One little boy of twelve years of age was taken to
the calaboose and whipped, then taken with the wagon-load
of other victims of their unrelenting cruelty to the scaffold,
followed by his mother in wild despair, praying as she went
through the streets, tossing her hands upward: ''O, God,
save my poor boy! O, Jesus Master, pity my poor child!
O, Savior, look down upon my poor baby ! " The woman
who went with her to the scaffold said she cried these
words over and over; "and when we got there," she said,
"she fell on her knees before the head man, and begged
for the life of her baby. But he kicked her on her head,
and cursed her, and told her the boy had got to die. The
boy exhorted his mother not to grieve so for him, * for I'm
going to Jesus ; meet me in heaven ; ' and he, with eleven
others, were swung off. The mother cried out, *0h, my
God I my poor son \ ' and fainted." So perfect was this
reign of terror that not even slave-owners, in many cases
298 A woman's life-work.
dared to protest against this wholesale butchery. The re-
peated whippings mangled the bodies of many so badly
that they were taken to the gallows in a dying state. One
man died while being taken upon the scaffold ; his sides
were cut through to the entrails, and even a part of them
protruded. I visited the calaboose, which had two apart-
ments. The first entrance was large enough for two per-
sons to be &stened to the strong iron staples. There was
room for two men to each victim, one on each side, who,
seated on a stool, could alternate the strokes upon the
writhing sufferer. The floor of this calaboose was of hard
wood, but it was so thoroughly stained with human gore
that the grain of the wood could not be distinguished. Into
the second room not a ray of light entered except on open-
ing the middle door.
Frank Susetts was a millionaire in the city of Baton
Eouge, Louisiana, and made his boast that he had no fear
of Yankees, for he had gold enough to cover his front
walk from the door to the gate, and could buy up any
Yankee who might attempt to trouble him. "There are
two things," he said, " they can never do: First, make me
poor ; second, make me take the oath of allegiance." He
owned nine plantations, besides very much city property.
Though hundreds of his. slaves had left him, he felt himself
secure in the abundance of his wealth. The government
engineer, who had been casting about for the best place to
locate a fort, had been looking over Frank Susetts's place
and said it was the most elevated and desirable location he
had found in the city, but he rather hesitated because of
the magnificent buildings it would destroy. When Susetts's
independent words reached his ear he at once decided, and
took liis men the second time to look over the ground.
Standing near the palatial mansion, and within hearing of
the owner, he said to his men, "Yes, yes, this is the place
for our fort."
Frank Susetts approached him with the offer of
THE TABLER TURNED. 299
thirty thousand dollars in gold if he would spare his
place.
''I can not accept it, sir,** said the engineer.
''I will give you fifty thousand dollars in gold if you
will save it It cost me one hundred and seventy-five
thousand dollars to build this house and the out-houses."
"Should you offer all that you say it cost you, it would
be of no consequence. We give you ten days to take away
every thing movable from your premises, for this house
will then be destroyed to make room for the fort. This is
the site we have selected."
At the expiration of the time set, it was in flames.
Frank Susetts and wife stood a block distant weeping.
Two of their former slaves were looking at the con-
flagration.
''Ah," said one, '' a little while ago it was massa Susetts's
time, when he had so many of our people hung; now it is
God's time. Praise de Lo'd, he's here to-day for sure.
Glory to Jesus, massa Susetts's day is over; he can never
have any more of our people hung."
It was now the 21st day of March, 1864. Many com-
plained of these turned tables. Judge Bullock remarked
that he couldn't even go to meeting without a ''pass;"
just what used to be required of the six thousand freed
slaves who were then in this city of refuge. Painters were
seen in various parts of the city dexterously using their
brushes in wiping out standing advertisements for tbe sales
of slaves. I saw a number of these whitewashed signs. In
some cases the paint was too thin to hide them. ''Slaves,
horses, mules, cattle, plantation utensils sold on reasonable
terms." They knew these advertisements were not agree-
able to Northern eyes. But I fear the covering of many
of these hearts was as frail as the thin whitewashing over
these advertisements.
On the Balston plantation we visited families, gave
tickets, and directed them to meet us at the place and hour
300 A woman's life-work.
appointed. Hundreds in squalid wretchedness were sup-
plied. The following day, in the afternoon, all orphan
children were to meet us. One hundred and twenty-two
ragged cliildren came. We placed them in two rows, the
boys on one side and the girls on the other. Selecting
each an assistant, we commenced measuring and distribut-
ing, keeping them all standing in their respective places
until we had given every one something, but yet too little
to meet their necessary wants. There were at that time
twenty-seven teachers and missionaries in the city repre-
senting nine States. Six day-schools and three night-schools
were established by them. Two other schools were taught
by colored teachers; one of these was a slave woman, who
had taught a midnight school for years. It was opened at
eleven or twelve o'clock at night, and closed at two o'clock
A. M. Every window and door was carefully closed to
prevent discovery. In that little school hundreds of slaves
learned to read and write a legible hand. After toiling all
day for their masters they crept stealthily into this back
alley, each with a bundle of pitch-pine splinters for lights.
Milla Granson, the teacher, learned to read and write from
the children of her indulgent master in her old Kentucky
home. Her number of scholars was twelve at a time,
and when she had taught these to read and write she
dismissed them, and again took her apostolic number and
brought them up to the extent of her ability, until she had
graduated hundreds. A number of them wrote their own
passes and started for Canada, and she supposes succeeded,
as they were never heard from. She was sold after her
master's death, and brought to Mississippi, and placed on a
plantation as a field-hand ; but, not being used to field-work,
she found it impossible to keep up with the old hands, and
the overseer whipped her severely.
"O, how I longed to die!" she told me; "and some-
times I thought I would die from such cruel whippings
upon my bared body, O, what a vale of tears this was
slaves' night-school. 301
for poor me I But one thing kept me from sinking, and
that was the presence of my dear Savior/'
Her health so far gave way that she reeled with weak-
ness as she went to and from her work ; and her master
saw she was &iling, and gave her permission to go into the
kitchen a part of the time.
"O, how thankful I was," she went on, "for this
promotion I and I worked as hard to keep it as any Con-
gressman could work for some high office. **
At length her uightrschool project leaked out, and was
for a time suspended ; but it was not known that seven of the
twelve years since leaving Kentucky had been spent in
this work. Much excitement over her night-school was
produced. The subject was discussed in their legislature,
and a bill was passed, that it should not be held illegal for
a slave to teach a slaye.
"All this time," said this dear woman, "I constantly
prayed that God would overrule this to his own glory, and
not allow those I had taught to read his Word to suffer, as
we had been threatened. I can not tell you how my heart
leaped with praise to Ood when a gentleman called to me
one day on the street, and said he would inform me that
I could teach my midnight school if I chose, as they found
no law against a slave teaching a slave."
This was accepted by that trembling teacher and scholars
as a direct answer to prayer. She not only opened her
night-school, but a Sabbath-school. I found more intelli-
gence among the colored residents of this city than any
other Southern city I had visited. Milla Granson used as
good language as any of the white people.
We found many little incidents to cheer in all our
rounds of pitiable scenes of sorrow. We sometimes met
men and women among these Southerners of correct views
en secession. One man said he never believed that slavery
was right; all the arguments brought forward lu its favor
never convinced him. Although he held a few slaves by
302 A woman's life-wobk.
inheritance, he never could buy or sell one. His black
people remained with him, and he paid them wages now i
that they were free by law, and he was glad of it. As he
wa£ nearly sixty years of age he had managed to keep out
of the army, but had to keep quiet on the subject of seces-
sion. From the first he thought it the height of folly to
resort to arms, as the Lord could not prosper their under-
taking. I believe that man was a conscientious Christian ;
very different in spirit from Judge Bullock, who said one
day in rather a careless mood, '' I think you have one class
of men in your North the most despicable I ever knew."
Now, thought I, we abolitionists are going to take a bless-
ing. "Who are they?" I asked. **They are that class
you call Copperheads. They are too dastardly to come
down here and help us fight, and they are too pusillani-
mous to fight for their own side."
Our daily work was very wearisome, having to walk
from four to six miles each day. Fresh arrivals daily re-
quired our attention, and after wind or rain pneumonia
and deaths were frequent. Bible-reading and prayer were
also a part of our mission. One day, while sister Backus
was opening barrels and boxes, and sorting and arranging
their contents in our store, I went with a load, in a re-
cently confiscated stage-coach drawn by mules. One of
the mules the colonel said he was afraid to allow me to
ride after; but I thought a little mule could do but little
harm with the experienced driver, and I ventured the ride,
taking in a poor crippled man on the way, who was just i
coming into camp. He was clad in a few cotton rags that
he had patched with old stocking-tops and bits of old tent-
cloth, to hold them together, and it was impossible to de-
tect the original fabric. In passing down the "Paradise
Road" to the camp in Natchez-under-the-Hill, the unruly
mule pranced, kicked, and reared, until both of them be-
came unmanageable, and the dust rolled up a thick cloud,
hiding the way before us, as well as the galloping mules.
ACCIDENT. 303
I believed that we should turn over at the short curve
near the base of the hill, where was a number of large
stumps; and that if we should strike one of them we should
be dashed in pieces. But prayer for a guiding hand seemed
in a moment to bring relief. We were overturned amid
stumps, and were dragged a few rods on the side of the
coach, when the canvas covering was detached from the
wheels. Our driver was dragged a few rods farther, while
the crippled man and myself were doing our best to crawl
from under the canvas. By this time fifteen or twenty
men reached cs. I was out and hauling the canvas off
the groaning man, whose head and iauce were covered with
blood. I told one of the men to run for a pail of water,
for I thought the poor man must be dying.
" O, no, it 's all right, — it '11 make me a better man,"
said he, while catching his breath, and wiping the blood
from his mouth.
" You had better sit down yourself; you are badly hurt,"
said one of the men.
" O no, I am not hurt," was my reply.
But as I was getting a little child's shirt ready for the men
to wash the crippled man's head, I found the front breadth
of my dress torn across, and I had to throw back my bon-
net to see ; but I knew my limbs were all sound. Al-
though it seemed as if we had turned many somersaults in
a second, yet I never felt more vigorous. I knew the sur-
geon of that camp was within a few rods of us, and re-
quested some one to go for him to care for my comrade.
I saw a man carefully washing out the large gashes on his
head, and I lefl for the surgeon, holding my torn dress-
skirt in my hand. Just as I reached his office ho was
jumping on his horse, starting for me. He exclaimed in
surprise, "Why, Mrs. Haviland! I've just this moment
got the word that you were nearly killed, and I was goiug
to see you."
"I am all right," I said; "but I wish you would go
304 A woman's xjfe-work.
and see to that crippled man, for I am afraid he is nearly
killed."
** Very well, but I shall look after you first."
By this time he was handling my arms, and pressing
here and there on my body, I thought pretty harshly; for
he either found or made some sore places. He ordered his
ambulance, in which I was taken to head-quarters. As I
was badly bruised, the surgeon urged me to take morphine.
I was sure of not needing it, but promised to call for it if
needed, and he allowed me to go without it. I found my-
self too lame to resume work for a couple of days ; then I
commenced again moderately, but carried marks of bruised
flesh for a month or more.
About two weeks after this, while investigating a new
arrival of a company of slaves, I learned that some of
them were shot by their pursuing masters, and one woman's
babe was instantly killed in its mother's arms; but the
mother succeeded in passing into our lines, with her dead
child in her arms, to be buried, as she said, ^^free,^ A
woman and a little boy of three years, with dresses torn
with briers to shreds, and feet and limbs swollen and
bleeding with scratches, came in, from whom I was getting
her sad history. Two gentlemen passing by, halted, and
said one :
" This looks as if these would have been much better
off at their old homes. Do n't you think so V*
''I think this picture shows great effort in escaping
from their old home," I replied.
** Do you live here ?"
** I am only a temporary resident here. My home is
in Michigan."
" May I ask your name?"
I gave it, and he continued:
"And so am I from Michigan. I've heard ot you be-
fore. I thought this was some good Samaritan," giving
His hand for a hearty shake.
A POMPOUS GENERAL. 305
''And who is thisT I asked.
" I 'm Dr. , from one of our Michigan cities.
And what are you doing here?**
" I am doing just the work you see before us."
" Yes, and I saw a span of mules trying their best to
kill her two weeks ago, when they came sailing down that
Paradise Boad up yonder; but they eouldn't do it," said
his guide.
I asked him what he was doing.. He said he had just
come to see if there was any thing he could do. I told
him of the new camp on the Balston plantation, and of
this camp of foiur thousand. I hoped he would look
after these, as we proposed to leave soon for other fields
of labor below.
On March 24, 1864, I took letters to postoffice, and
found one from our dear fnend, Addie Johnson, assistant
matron of Soldiers' Home, in Columbus, Kentucky. I
went to Genei'al Tuttle for an order for transportation to
Baton Bouge, and, as usual, introduced myself by handing
my official papers. Being a very large man, he was in
proportion consequential.
" What do you want?"
I told him I would like transportation to Baton Bouge.
" I do n't know," he said, *' that I am here to make
the Government a great benevolent society, by giving every
thoroughly loyal and earnest Christian man or woman
transportation."
" Is there not an order," I replied, ** from Adjutant-
general -Thomas, granting us transportation, rations, and
quarters?"
" I have received no such order personally."
I bade him good morning, and left his office, fully de-
termined to bring him an order, although I knew he must
have seen one. My purpose was to take the first boat to
Vicksburg, as General Thomas was then in that city, to
see whether his order was to be honored. Passing Colonel
26
306 A woman's life-work.
Young's office, I called to see if he could grant the iavoTy
and found that he could give the transportation desired;
consequently I left the general without troubling him fur-
ther. On my return I called at the other mission store,
and met brother Burlingame and Isaac Thome, who also
wished to go below, but were doubtful whether General
Tuttle would give them transportation. They said they
were waiting to learn of my success, and were surprised to
find that Colonel Young had the power to grant it
We took the steamer *' J. H. BusselP for Baton Rouge.
On March 27th, Sunday morning, we passed the mouth of
Bed River, where was a gun-boat, from which a few pris-
oners were taken aboard of our boat A woman named
Crosly was also taken on board, to go to New Orleans for
the purpose of exposing those who had run through our
lines contraband goods. There was a woman of property
and standing on the boat, who still held her household
servants, and made her boast that no one could even hire
her slaves to leave her.
''I'd like to see any one ofier my niggers a book," she
declared ; " I reckon they'd take it as an insult. They *d tell
you mighty quick they 'd no use for books or schools. The
niggers never will be as happy as they have been. They 11
soon die out. It 's fearful to see them die ofi* as they do
in these camps. They know nothing of taking care of
themselves. They are cared for by us as tenderly as our
own children. I tell you, they are the happiest people
that live in this country. If they are sick the doctor is
sent for, and they are cared for in every way ; they know
nothing of care."
" If they are such a happy class of people, how was it
that you had such a time of punishing and hanging them
within the last two years?" I asked.
" O, that had to be done to save our lives, because they
were about to rise in an awful insurrection."
" But what would induce them to rise in insurrection.
I^eiDE VIEW OF SLAVERY, 307
when they are so happy and contented as you have de-
scribed?"
'' O, there is always somebody ready to put the devil
in their heads," was her ready reply.
But Mrs. Crosl/s report was of a very different char-
acter. She said, '* There has never been the half told of this
hell upon earth — the awful wickedness on these Eed River
plantations, where I have lived ever since I was fifteen
years old. If you knew what I have passed through, you
would not wonder that there is nothing but a wreck left
of me. I married a plantation blacksmith when a young
girl of fifteen, and left my people in Indiana, as my hus-
band was hired by a rich slave-holder, Mr. Samuel Lay,
who lived on Bed Biver. We lived on his plantation many
years, though he used to do a great deal in ironing negroes
for neighboring planters."
I told her of the slave-irons I had found on a deserted
plantation, to take to my Michigan home
"Don't let the people here know it," she said, "or
they will take them from you and drop them in the river ;
for they bury them, or throw them in the river or creek,
to put them out of sight of Yankees. When the city was
taken they sent painters all over the city, with brushes
and paint-buckets, to paint over all advertising signs of
slaves for sale, and hid all slave -irons they could lay
hands on."
I told her that was done in Natchez, when that city
was taken.
"And that is just what they did," she went on, "in
Vicksburg. Among the slave-irons you found, were there
any of those new-fashioned gags?"
I told her that there were not.
" You ought to get some of them. If I were at home
I could get you two or three kinds; but you ought to see
the new gags anyhow. They are made with barbs, as
they make on fish-hooks, and they pierce the tongue if
308 A woman's life-wokh.
they attempt to speak or make a noise. They can 't live
many hours with one of them in their mouths, for the
tongue swells up so. Mr. Lay had an old slave woman
we called Aunt Hannah whipped, and gagged with that
new gag, and lefl her all night in her cabin ;" and when I
opened her door her tongue was swollen out of her mouth
and looked so awful, I would n't have known her if she
had n't been in her own cabin. I told 'em she groaned so,
I reckoned she was dying, and they sent for the doctor to
come and cut the barbs out, and he told Mr. Lay she would
have died in an hour longer. It was a long time before
she recovered from it. But as near as she was to dying, the
overseer left Ben all night with that kind of a gag; and
they found him dead jn the morning. You of the North
have no idea of the perfect hell upon earth we've had
down here. Mr. Lay brought Alice from Kentucky, and
she 'd been a kitcken-maid, and never worked in the cot-
ton-field till she came here. The overseer was a mighty
hard man, and he drew that long whip of his over her
shoulders so often because she could n't keep up with the
other hands, that she ran away in the bush, and was gone
two days before they caught her. Then they whipped her
awfully, and in two or three da3r8 they drove her out in
the field. Within a week she ran away again, and was
gone about two weeks. They caught her with the help of
bloodhounds; and when she was brought in, her arms were
torn by the dogs, and I trembled for the poor girl, for I
knew .they'd nearly kill her. Sure enough, the first I
knew my husband had her at his shop, to iron her with a
full set. There was a knee-stifiener, an iron collar with a
bell, and a pair of handcufis, with a chain between to allow
her to use the hoe. When I saw the heavy irons I went to
the shop and begged Mr. Crosly not to iron Alice like that,
for it would kill her, as she was badly torn by the dogs,
^ut he swore at me, and told me to go back into the
use, whore I l>oloiigod ; this was his business. I went
A HELL ON EARTH. 309
back and cried over it till it appeared I could n't live; and
I went out again and begged him not to put on all these
irons; for he knew they were heavier than the law allowed,
and he would commit murder, for she could not live in
this way. But he only swore at me the more. At this
Mrs. Lay came out in a rage, and said she would see
whether any one could come in and interfere with the pun-
ishment of any of her slaves, and ordered another slave to
cut across both of her feet with a pocket-knife, through
the skin, so that blood was lefb in her tracks. I turned
away, for I thought they would murder the poor girl be-
fore my eyes; and I cried myself sick and could n't sleep,
for I thought she must die before morning. The cotton*
field was opposite my window, and after break&st I watched
to see the hands go to their work; and, sure enough, there
was poor Alice hobbling out into the cotton-field. They
had been at work but a little while when a heavy blow
from the whip-handle on the back of her head brought
her to the ground. *0, my God I' I cried, to see that
overseer hit her like that because she could n't keep up her
row. I prayed God that Alice might die at once and be
out of her misery ; and, sure enough, they brought her out
of that field dead I I was glad of it. Poor girl ! she could
suffer no more under their hands."
" And did not her death call forth some action fi'om
the law ? " I asked.
'* Nothing of the kind was ever noticed on our planta-
tion. I tell you it was a perfect hell on earth down here ;
you do n't know anything about it ; and yet, if these things
are told, they '11 deny it, and call them black abolition
lies, when it 's God*s truth, and they know it There was
Uncle Jack, poor fellow ! He ran away, and they brought
him in with the houndsj after he 'd been gone a week, and
they made him strip and lie down on his fiu», and fastened
his hands and feet to iron rings. Then a man sat on each
side of him to do the whipping, alternating iu their strokes
310 A woman's life-work.
from his feet to his head, then back to his feet, and so
back and forth until they 'd given him one hundred lashes.
I passed by them, and saw his back cut up to a raw jelly,
and the flesh twitched as you Ve seen newly kiUed beef.
But this was not alL They took burning pitch-pine slivers
and held them over his quivering flesh, dropping the
melted blazing pitch from his head to his feet After this
awful torture, the two men carried him to his cabin, I
thought, to die; and I had another all-night cry over Uncle
Jack. He was not able to go out in the field again for two
weeks."
Mrs. Crosly related many other incidents in her own
experience, some of which are too shocking for the public
eye or ear.
''My husband," she said, ''bought two slave women,
one of whom was the mother of two illegitimate children,
that my children were compelled by their father to address
as brother and sister. He also brought the mother to my
apartments, and occupied my parlor bedroom with her for
years — all to aggravate me. I didn't blame the woman
Molly, for she could n't help herself. Bhe and I cried to-
gether over this state of things for hours, many a time.
She often begged my husband to let her live a virtuous
life, but it was of no use. He would only threaten to
punish her. Poor thing! we felt sorry for each other, and
she used to do all she could for me. I am so thankful she
can now go where she pleases. She took her two children,
and with the other woman went as soon as they could get
through the lines. I am so glad all the slaves are free.
Mr. Crosly has got our oldest boy with him in the army,
and threatens to take my youngest boy of fourteen. But
the Union officers say they will confiscate our property and
make it over to me and my boys, so that Mr. Crosly can
not take it from me."
Tlie terrible scenes she had passed through, and wit-
nessed, substantiated our oft expressed opinion that unlim-
TBIALS OP SLAVE LIFE. 311
ited power on the part of slave-owners was equally degrad-
ing to the slave-holder and to the slave. Even more : it
fostered the worst passions of a depraved nature. Her ex-
perience was no isolated one. Such cases in many locali-
ties were neither few nor far between.
On March 28th we learned » with surprise, that the
bright light we saw the evening before, as we came from the
soldiers' meeting, was the steamer ''J. H. Russell" burn-
ing to the water^s edge. No lives were lost, but all the
^ggagc of passengers and many mules, horses, cattle, and
sheep and other government supplies were destroyed. O,
how thankful we were that we exchanged boats when we
did, and were safely landed here in Baton Rouge. ''Bless
the I»rd, O my soul! and forget not all his benefits,'* was
my first thought. How many &vors are often bestowed
in disguise!
At three o'clock, P. M., I attended a meeting of colored
people at the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was built
by themselves, and upon invitation addressed them. I
spoke perhaps twenty minutes, taking for my theme Psalm
cxi, 12: "I know the Lord will maintain the cause of tho
afflicted, and the right of the poor." At the close of the
meeting the colored people gatliered around us, and gave
us such a hand-shaking and '' God bless you" as we seldom
find outside of this oppressed people.
In the evening more than a dozen came to our lodgings
and spent two hours recounting the trials of their slave-
life, which were of thrilling interest. O, what a bitter
draught was theirs, even to the very dregs! One poor man
named Henry, owned by John Reese, near Baton Rouge,
for the crime of visiting his wife and children oftener than
once a month against his master's command, was ordered
to be nailed to a tree by his ear, and whipped until it tore
out. But even more awful scenes of persecution and out-
rage these people passed through, which we can not record.
We closed our interview, after listening to their sod recitals
312 A woman's life-wobk.
with prayer, in which all took part. A solemn season it
was, to mingle our tears and voices with those who had
passed through such scenes of suffering and were now prais-
ing the Lord for freedom.
On Tuesday, 29th, we visited the general hospital in
tlie noble asylum for the mute and blind. Of the latter
there were thirty inmates. They played on the piano and
sang very sweetly, and we were interested in seeing the
mutes converse with each other in their sign language.
One little fellow was asked by the matron to give us their
name for Yankee. He quickly passed his fingers through
each other, and we all laughed to see ourselves with such
an unstable name. All seemed much pleased to receive
our visit.
We found here our sick and wounded soldiers with
r
nothing but army supplies, boiled fat pork and bread.
Surgeon Pole told us they were out of other supplies. We
sent immediately to New Orleans for dried fruit, crackers,
etc., and within four days they came rolling* in by the
barrel. We left this marble-fisiced edifice to visit a few
camps surrounding the city of Baton Rouge. By request I
attended a six o'clock meeting in the chapel for soldiers at
the general hospital, accompanied by Be v. Joel Burlingame
and Rev. Mr. Merryfield.
On Wednesday, 30th, we spent some time in visiting
and distributing tracts and Testaments, and conversing
with soldiers. We also visited a colored school of two
hundred and twenty-four pupils. All were much engaged
in study. We were invited to address them. Bister Backus
and myself complied, and it seemed gratifying to them and
satisfactory to us. We returned to our pleasant boarding
place, wrote a letter, and made a number of calls. We
found a woman who used to sympathise with Eliza Wilson
in her slave-trials previous to her escape to the North.
Through her we heard from Eliza's little girl, whom she
^ft with her old master Bisscl. A few days before she
WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 313
had come to her aunt, in Plaquemine, about nine miles, in
the night, she heard that Yankee soldiers were in posses-
sion of that town. She had been told that a certain road
led to Plaquemine, and took it in a moonlight night and
found her aunt. Although she was only about ten years
of age, and could not remember her mother, yet this woman
said the child had heard I was going to take her to her
mother, and that she was nearly insane over it I had
previously sent word to them by a soldier who was a dis-
patch-bearer, that the mother was very anxious to get her
child if she was within our lines; and when he returned to
Plaquemine he found the child and helped her to escape
from Bissel with much less trouble than her mother had
had seven years before.
About the close of the month we took a long walk to
Fort Williams, where were three thousand sick and
wounded soldiers. The scenes here were indescribable.
The mingled language of acute distress, in prayer, groans,
and occasional oaths from the profitne, could be heard.
One young man seemed too near death's door to sur-
vive. Said he : '* If I die it will be suddenly, upon the
amputation of this arm. It is too late for me now ; but
if I am spared I will seek an interest in Christ." But we
had heard the cry of despair before, and could not give
him up. The arm was taken off without causing instant
death, as he was fearing. He then became an eager lis-
tener, and said he could now pray for pardon, and believed
that the merciful Redeemer would grant the earnest desire
of his soul. We found a few men, whose lives were given
up by the surgeon, who were truding^ and possessed the
comforting assurance of a glorious future. As we were
about to leave, another soldier attracted our attention, who
said he was* not a Christian, but wished to be, and after
repeating a few promises and praying with him we left.
In tears, he requested us to see him again.
While we were waiting for a boat for New Orleans wc
27
314 A woman's life-work.
again visited the hospital, and found both of those who
were anxious at our previous visit rejoicing Christians.
I went to the office to inquire for a steamer for New
Orleans, and on leaving was accosted by a young man
with the query whether I was looking for a boat. As he
saw that I noticed the feather in his drab hat, and star,
with stripes on the sleeves of his gray coat, he remarked
that he was an exchanged prisoner, and was on his way to
his home at Atlanta, Georgia. Said I :
*' You appear like a young man of intelligence, and I
hope by the time you reach your home you will conclude
to cast your net on the right side."
''We've been fishing on the right side these three
years,** he replied; ''and well fight three, ten, or twenty
years longer, if we live so long, but what we will have our
rights — the right to hold our slave property without inter-
ference from Northern abolitionists. You need not judge
of our strength because you have a little strip of this river,
and our folks are rather discouraged here, and tired of
war. If you could see our troops in Virginia, you 'd see
as hopeful and jolly a set of fellows as you ever saw. Give
up? No, never! I tell you, madam, we are determined
to have our independence if we fight till we die."
" I am sorry," I answered, " you can not be induced
to adopt a course worthy of your zeal. Young man, the
worst wish I have for you is that you may be prepared to
die, for the fiat of the Almighty is against you. The
sword and the boys in blue are going to bring you to terms.
You will never again buy and sell men, women, and chil-
dren like horses, cattle, and sheep in the market The
judgments of the Lord are upon you for these things."
/^ " You need n't think God is on your side, for you 've
made our niggers our masters. Look I within four rods
of us stand nigger pickets, with their bayonets, and we
can't pass those bayonets without a pass — ^and our own
niggers, too. I tell you, madam, if I could have my
REPRESENTATIVE SOUTHERNERS. 315
way, I'd have a rope around every nigger's neck, and
faaug 'em, or dam up this Mississippi River with them;"
and his black eyes flashed with fury. ** Only eight or ten
miles from this river slaves are working for their masters
as happily as ever."
''We know that they are remaining on many planta-
tions; but we know of a number of plantations that are
worked by their former slaves because their former mas-
ters are paying them wages. But if they are as happy
and contented as you describe, why do we see them daily
coming into these camps, frequently for twenty to fifty
miles, wading swamps and ci*eeks, with swollen and bleed-
ing feet ? Why all this painstaking to get away from their
masters, if they are so attached to them?"
" They are poisoned by the Yankees. You talk about
the justness of your cause — any thing but justice to put
arms in the hands of these niggerc, to be our masters — to
set our slaves over us with gun and bayonet God Al-
mighty will never prosper you — never."
'' I see I can say nothing that will avail with you. I
perceive that it is beyond the power of man. Hoping that
a Higher Power may reach you, I bid you fiurewelL"
With these words, I turned away; but had not ad-
vanced five feet when he called out :
'' Madam, I hope we '11 get the same boat. I 'd like to
see you again ; for I like to meet people who stand up for
their own principles."
Widely differing from this captain's spirit was another,
who was the owner of a large plantation, with numerous
slaves, yet a strong Union man, and his wife and daugh-
ters srnipathiased with him. Before the fall of Vicksburg
he called all his slaves together, and told them this war
would result in the freedom of every slave in the United
States, and he wanted now to make an arrangement with
them to work for him as heretofore. He promised to pay
all the grown hands eight dollars a mouth, and board them
316 A woman's life-work.
with their families as he had done before, and to pay them
at the close of each month. With tears of gratitude, they
accepted his proposition. Ho told them that this arrange-
ment must be kept secret, for their safety as well as his own ;
for they all knew there had always been a prejudice against
him because he allowed them privileges that other planters
adjoining them did not They said to him, ** Your niggers
think they are white," because he never would have an
overseer on his plantation, and would not have whipping
and punishing among his grown people, and the iiEimilies
among his slaves managed their own children. He came
into our lines as soon as he could, to save his life; and he
told us he had not visited his home for a long time, except
at night, as his life had been threatened, and that his wife
and daughters, for their own protection, kept loaded pis-
tols at their bedside. He had also armed a number of his
servants, as they were likewise exposed to an attack. He
was a noble -appearing man, and said, in conversation:
'^ Mrs. Haviland, I have always held the same views on
the subject of slavery that you do; but it was against the
law to free them and allow them to remain here, and we
could not send them away without breaking up some of
their families. But I rejoice that it has come to an end ;
and I know of others Avho rejoice, but they do so secretly."
His wife came to see him while we were there, and seemed
to be a woman of sterling principle. She said they had to
watch day and night, fearing their buildings would be
burned, and perhaps some of them murdered.
We called on a widow and her two daughters who were
in deep affliction on account of the bitterness of feeling
toward them in consequence of their Union principles.
They were a Christian family, and owned some property in
the country, besides their residence in town. A number of
our officers boarded with her. I waa in her family a day
or two, and as I left I took out my purse to pay her.
'Don't open that," she cried; **I can't take a farthing.
PORT HUDSON. 317
You don't know what we have to endure. I have two
brothers in the rebel army, and when they came home,
because I told them they were fighting against Ood in
fighting against the Union, they swore at me and threat-
ened to take my life ; they said I was a Southern Yankee,
and they were the worst of all. I expect they'll bum my
house some night or get some one else to do it; and I know
there are enough that would gladly do it. O, you can't
tell how much good your prayer did us this morning. I
do feel a daily necessity of looking to God to keep us. I
want to make a request of you to remember us at God's
throne, for wo know not what a day may bring forth. Do
plead for us in prayer, my sister." I lefl her and her
daughters bathed in tears. We then took steamer Niagara
for New Orleans, April 2d. It being dark, the captain con-
cluded to wait till moonlight, when an order came to go up
the river, near Port Hudson, for twenty soldiers and thirty
thousand dollars in contraband goods with two men prison-
ers, who had been in charge of these goods for the rebels.
While they were loading the goods sister Backus and myself
took a long walk to the residence of John Buhler, aged
seventy-five years, who lost a few weeks before one hundred
and thirty slaves. The old man and his wife took us into
their flower-garden, where were one hundred and twenty-
five varieties of roses and many kinds of shrubbery, and the
greatest variety of cactus I ever saw ; many of them were
six and eight feet high* One large pecan-tree was almost
covered with a small yellow rose-climber in full bloom,
presenting a beautiful appearance. They gathered nearly
an armful of flowers for us, and took us into the room in
which a bursting shell made sad havoc. They made many
excuses for the weedy flower-beds in the yard and garden,
as they now had no servants to keep them. Two drunken
women came aboard the boat and were put off by our
captain, but through the influence of their friends came on
again. We turned from this scene, and took a stroll tc
318 A woman's ijfe-work.
another residence, where we found the former slaves of the
owner the sole occupants. They had a hearty laugh when
I asked if the ''smoke-house key was frowed in de well?"
•*Yes, yes, missus," they answered; ** we's got de managin'."
We returned to Baton Rouge (the place where we
halted some time is called West Baton Bouge), arriving
late in the afternoon. We walked up to our old boarding-
place, and took supper with our dear friends.
On April 3d we arrived at New Orleans at nine A. M. ,
in time to attend a colored Sunday-school. At its close I
gave them a little talk. From thence we were piloted to
the Bethel Methodist Church (colored) and found a quar-
terly meeting being held. Here we listened to a very
interesting and intelligent discourse by Bev. William Dove.
I made a few remarks on the comparison of present times
with the former. At the close of the service many came
forward to shake hands and tell us of the time when min-
isters and people were hauled out of this church of their
own buUding and taken to jail. The free people were
compelled to pay twenty-five dollars' fine, and slaves were
punished with 'twenty-five lashes on the bare back, well
laid on. This persecution the authorities deemed neces-
sary in order to keep these poor people from rising in
insurrection. They locked up their churches two years
and a half, until the Union soldiers unlocked them.
Though the authorities forbade their meeting at all, they
often stole away two and three miles and held little meet-
ings in deep ravines and in clumps of bushes and trees, to
hide from their cruel pursuers; but they could not even
there long escape their vigilant enemies. ^'Ingurreetion!
Insurrection !" was constantly inflaming the guilty mul-
titude. Imprisoning, putting into stocks, and all sorts of
punishments seemed to be. the order of the day.
A few months after the closing of their church the
spotted fever broke out, slaying its thousands. An old
pious colored woman said to one who was losing all his
SPOTTED FEVER. 319
&mil7, and called upon her to assist them: ''Now, who is
plotting insurrection ? Who you gwine to take to jail now?
Who you gwine to whip an' hang now ? You can't take
God out to jail." They heard that their enemies had con-
cluded to stop their praying, for it was thought to be
through the prayers of the colored people that all this
trouble was sent upon them; for the plague was almost
entirely confined to the white people. This class of accus-
ers became even more bitter than before.
No one can look at this volume of history without call-
ing to mind the hardness of heart of the ancient Egyp-
tians.
• ^m
320 A woman's life-work.
)^
Chapter XII.
MISSION WORK IN NEW ORLEANS.
At New Orleans, where we arrived April 6, 1864, our
home was a' very pleasant one. Beneath the windows of *
our room was a grove of fig-trees. We had the kindest
of friends.
We visited ten colored schools in the city, fiUed with
eager learnera. One was taught by Mrs. Brice, who had
in charge sixty scholars. She had been teaching here three
years, under much persecution, and stemmed the torrent
of opposition, sometimes in secret, before the war. Sister
Brice and her husband had been struggling in this city
nearly five years, through this bitter hate to the North,
contending for Unionism everywhere, through civil, relig-
ious, and political life. We called on them, and spent two
hours in eating oranges and listening to the fanaticisms
and wild conceptions of this misguided people and terror-
stricken multitude when the ** Yankee" soldiers marched
up the streets from the gun-boats. Schools were dismissed; I
the children cried as they ran home, telling those they met
that the Yankees had come to kill them and their mothers.
But there were those who cried for joy at the sight of the
national flag. The starting tear manifested the deep feel-
ing of these friends as they attempted to relate the scene,
but said it was impossible, as it was beyond description.
It seemed like an oasis in a desert to meet such kindred
spirits. We left them, with their urgent request to make
another call before we left the city.
We were invited by the pastor to attend a love-feast
meeting at half-past six o'clock, P. M., where we met a
large congregation. The services were opened as usuaL
/I
i
COIX>RED LOV£-FEAST. 321
Soon they were ** breaking bread" with each other, shak-
ing hands, and singing. Many were weeping. Some broke
to each other the bread, exclaiming, *' Praise God for this
day of liberty to worship God!*' One old man said to one
of the minbters, as he placed his hand on his shoulder:
'* Bless God, my son, we do n't have to keep watch at that
door," pointing to it, '* to tell us the patrollers are coming
to takQ us to jail and fine us twenty-five dollars for prayin'
and talkin' of the love of Jesus. .O no, we 's free! Yes,
thank God for freedom!" Clapping hiis hands, his shouts
of "Glory, glory, hallelujah!" were followed by others,
until " Glory, hallelujah to the Lamb forever!" was heard
from many voices. Men clasped the necks of their breth-
ren, and shook hands with the sisters, singing, weeping,
shouting, jumping, and whirling. Said one woman, as she
clasped another, " O sister, don't you 'member when da tuck
us over in dat jail dat night, an' said da would whip us
if we did n't stop pra3rin'?" and then they both jumped and
shouted, throwmg up their hands in wild excitement A
half-hour was spent in these outbursts of long pent-up feel-
ings ; then they settled down into comparative quiet, and
the pastor exhorted them to be brief in their remarks.
Perhaps an hour was spent in the relation of experiences,
and the meeting closed with siuging :
"The jubilee has come;
And we are free, we are free."
Then there was agfun the shaking of hands, and an-
other half-hour was spent in overflowing manifestations, as
at the opening of their meeting. This long-oppressed peo-
ple realized their great change beyond our conceptions.
At the Christian Commission rooms. No. 69 Carondelet
Street, Dr. F. B. Smith, agent, we met brother Merrifield,
of Baton Rouge, and brother Horton, who took us to visit
a school of sixty pupils, taught by two colored men, Ba|>
tist ministers. They had 0})cncd it before the government
or missionaries opened a school in this city for colore''
322 A woman's life-work.
children. We had visited and addressed a number of
other schools among these people of this city, one of which
numbered over four hundred scholars, in a confiscated col-
lege ; but this in interest sur|iassed them all. Here in an
old slave -pen, where hundreds and thousands had been
cried off to the highest bidder, where the cries of parting
mother and child had been heard and unheeded, where the
pleadings of husbands and fathers were only answered by
the lash, those many tears, sighs, and groans were exchanged
for intellectual culture and religious instruction. Here
were sundry Union flags waving, and a large portrait of
Abraham Lincoln hung on the wall behind the desk. The
scene was inspiring.
Ailer returning, two colored women, genteelly dressed,
and quite intelligent, called on us and gave us a thrilling
history of the past. They gave us some startling facts of
the efforts made to return slaves, who had come within our
lines to their masters, by making friends of our officers
and soldiers. Men had enlisted from this State (Louisiana)
^ and Mississippi as Union soldiers from selfish motives.
Their sole object was to assist in getting their slaves back,
by taking them out of houses when employed by colored
people, and from the street when sent to market, and
placing them in jail. After orders were passed to givo
rations to the families of colored soldiers, one young girl,
whose name was Rhoda, was doing well until she was over-
taken with chills. Her brother gave her a paper certifying
he was a soldier, and requested mtions for her, but she was
arrested on the street, and lodged in jail, where she re-
mained three months, sick with chills and fever, and with-
out change of clothing, although her female friends made
many efforts to get food and clothing to her. At length
a deliverer came, who found three hundred miserable, ver-
min-eaten ])risoner8, and set them^ree. A more grateful
company was never found. Find &ult who will with Ben-
jamin F. Butler, this was just the work he did ; and many
A WICKED PLOT. 323
lives were saved, and much suffering relieved, under his
administration.
We dined with a widow who had paid $1,800 for her-
self, and lived in good style by boarding her friends, who
paid her extra board-bills to assist her. A Creole lady
called to see us who could converse a little in English.
The Creoles in New Orleans generally spoke French. This
madame was a woman of wealth and position, and well
pleased with the freedom of the slave.
We heard of a project devised by many masters to
massacre all the blacks. One brought in three hogsheads
marked sugar. A little slave girl, hearing her master say
at dinner-table, that he had one filled with loaded pistols,
another with dirks, and the third with bowie-knives, went
and told her mother. She was directed to be careful and
listen, while busy about the room, to all her master said,
and report to her. In this way she heard the plans that
her master and his friends designed to carry iuto execu-
tion, and informed her mother. The plan was to paint a
large company of their men black, who should assume the
attitude of fight; then all were to cry out '* iHsurrection!
insurrection!" and fly to every negro man, woman, and
child, and kill them all off. The mother made an errand
down town with her little girl, and called on General But-
ler, to whom they told all. A party of officers and sol-
diers were dispatched at once, who vLdted that house, de-
manded the keys, and searched the premises. There they
found the hogsheads, broke in the head of each, and found
all as reported. The master was banished from the city,
his fisimQy sent outside the lines, his property confiscated,
and his slaves set free. No wonder they disliked General
Butler, when he defeated their base designs.
The convention which met in the City Hall to frame
a free constitution for Louisiana created considerable ex-
citement. Many slave-owners were confident they would
have all their slaves back again, or get [my for them.
324 A woman's lipe-wobk.
As there were uo sanitary agents at Brazier City, and
we learned of much sufieriug there, we called at the Chris-
tian Commission Rooms to make further inquiries, and
found brother Diossy had just sent both an agent and a
teacher to that point *' But if you are hunting for desti-
tute places," he told us, '' I wish you would go to Ship
Island, in the Gulf of Mexico, as there are soldiers and
many prisoners there, and they have no chaplain or agent
to look after their sanitary condition." While I was in-
clined to go, sister Backus thought, in view of the very
warm weather, and because we were so nearly worn out
with several months' constant toiling, we had better turn
our faces homeward. I knew there was but little more
than shadows left of us, yet I could not rid myself of the
impression that it would be right to go; but I told her I
would not draft her into service, or persuade her against
her judgment.
I met at these rooms brother Merrifield and brother
Horton, and the chaplain of the Michigan 6th Infantry.
By their request we attended a soldiers' prayer-meeting.
Near the close one soldier expressed his gratitude for the
privilege of listening to the voice of mothers in counsels
that reminded many of them of their own mothers iar
away. He could say no more for a moment, being over,
come with emotion. " You may call me weak, and if this
be weakness, then I am weak," he said. Another requested
prayer for his sick soldier brother, and for the preserva-
tion of the Northern ladies who were laboring for them.
After this meeting I called at the office for transporta-
tion; but there was no encouragement that I could get
it for a number of days, perhaps two weeks, as General
Banks had nearly all the boats up Red River, in hb fleet.
But as I was passing the gulf office I called and found the
steamer Clyde going out for Ship Island in four hours,
and at once secured transportation for us both. I returned
to our boarding-house, and reported what I had done, and
ON SHIP ISLAND. 326
told sister Backus if she was willing to go the sea-breeze
might do more to rest us than the labors would add to our
weariness. She consented to accompany me, and we pro-
vided ourselves with half a bushel of reading maitter at
Christian Commission Booms, and secured the aid of a
couple of soldiers to carry our books to the street-car, from
thence to a steam-car that landed us at the Cbfde. As
there was no berth for us we obtained a couple of blankets,
but there being room for only one to lie down, we man-
aged, by taking turns, to get considerable sleep. On April
8th, at ten A. M., we landed on Ship Island. It was of
white sand, that resembled, at a distance, a huge snow-
bank. We found a little sprinkle of brown sand, upon
which grew a few scrubby trees and a species of cactus
that spread out in clusters as large as a dinner-plate. The
island is eight miles in length, and from one-fourth to
three-fourths of a mile wide. The captain told us he should
not leave until four o'clock, P. M., and we made use of
our time accordingly. When we landed with our large
market-basket heaping full of Testaments and other read-
ing matter, the gimboat boys and prisoners gathered around
us like hungry children. Prisoners in irons came holding
the iron ball in one arm, while the other hand reached for
a Testament, crying out, ''Please give me a Testament, I
lost mine in battle;" ''Please give me one, I lost mine in a
long march;". "Please give me something to read, I lost
my Testament in a rain-storm." Many hands were reached
over the shoulders of others, until thirty or forty hands at
a time were extended. We soon exhausted our basket-
supply. We had a few in our satchels, but we reserved
them for the hospital and military prison. As we had dis-
posed of the most of our books in an hour, we spent an
hour on the beach gathering sea-shells until noon, then
took our rations, and spent the remainder of our time in
hospital-visiting, and in learning from the officers what was
needed to be sent on our return to New Orleans.
326 A woman's lifk-wouk.
While engaged iu other matters, we fouud our boat had
left us, and was steaming away perliaps a mile from us.
Sister Backus was greatly disappointed at being left, and
gave way to despondency; but I assured her it was all for
the best, and that as the Lord had heretofore provided for
us, so he would provide for us now. We returned to the
tent of Mrs. Green, a tidy mulatto woman, where we had
left our satchels. As she met us and learned of our being
left, and heard sister Backus lament over ''not having
where to lay our heads," she quickly replied: "Yes, you
shall have a place for your heads. In that chest I have
pleuty of bedding, and 111 dress up this bed for you two.
My husband can find a place with some of his comrades,
and I '11 make a bed for myself on the floor till the boat
comes back." "There, sister Backus," I said, "the Lord
is providing for us already." Tears filled her eyes. She
replied, " I will not doubt any more."
Mrs. Green had a nice dinner prepared in the best
style; table-linen of the finest damask, china ware and solid
silver spoons, pitcher, forks, and plated table knives, etc.
I inquired how this came about, as I had not seen a table
so richly set since coming into the army. Her reply was,
that both of their fathers were wealthy planters, who made
them free when they died. Her husband received by will
twenty-five thousand dollars, and she also received from
hef father's estate a fine brick residence. They had it
nicely furnished, and their property was valued at fifty
thousand dollars. Her husband was making in his busi-
ness from seventy-five to one hundred dollars a month, but
he was so confident that this war would result in the free-
dom of their race that he, with others, enlisted in a col-
ored regiment for seven dollars a month, under the rebel
government, with a secret understanding among themselves
that they would all go in with the Union army as soon as
opportunity presented. The opportunity was furnished on
the taking of New Orleans by Union troops. The regiment
FINDING FRIENDS. 327
was officered by men of their own color, but the indignities
they received at the hands of Union commanders caused
their officers to resign their positions. One of the many
was on one occasion of an order by one of their captains
for shoes and blankets for his destitute men. It was not
honored, and he went in person to inform the commander
how- needy his men were. The reply was that he need not
expect negro regiments to be supplied the same as white
soldiers. This was thrown in their teeth by Confederates:
"You see what you get by going over to the Yankees.
We never served you like that," said a Confederate.
We found Mr. Green an intelligent and pleasant man.
Just as our dinner was ready, Captain James Noyce called
to see us, and urged us to make our home with his family
during our stay on the island. We told him of the kind
oflfer of Mrs. Green. " I know," was his reply, ** that Mrs.
Green has the nicest things of any one on this island, but
my wife and I want you with us." He said he should call
for us in two hours, which he did ; and we felt that our
lots were cast in a pleasant place. There were two lieu-
tenants boarding with them, both of whom, with the cap*
tun, appeared like men of sterling principle.
While enjoying a very pleasant social visit with our
new friends, sister Backus espied the life of Orange Scott
on their center table (a goods-box with a newspaper spread).
In surprise she exclaimed: "Sister Haviland, here is the
life of Orange Scott I Isn't this hom^-like? away here in
theGulf of Mexico!"
"Do you know any thing of Orange Scott?" inquired
our hostess.
" I guess we do. We know all about him," replied
sister Backus.
" You are not Wesleyan Methodists, are you?"
" Indeed we are, both of us."
She almost flew at us, placing her hands on our shoul-
ders. " I do n't wonder you seemed so much like relative
.328 A woman's ltpe-work.
Orange f5cott is my father, and Mr. Noyce and I are Wes-
leyans, " and she laughed and cried at the same time. The
dear little homesick woman was overjoyed. She had been
on the island a long time with her husband, and in poor
health, sick and tired of army life, and longing for her
Northern home. Yet she would not consent to leave her
husband so long as he could stay in one place a sufficient
time for her to be with him. But he w*as fearful it was
impairing her health. On her account, as well as our own,
we were thankful for the privilege of mingling with kin-
dred spirits. The two lieutenants who boarded with them
brought in their new mattresses to make a double bed for the
captain and his wife, as they gave up their own bed to us
during our stay. This left the lieutenants to sleep on the
bare tent floor, with their blankets only. But we did not
know of this arrangement until the day we left.
April 9th was very windy. We could not go out for
the dicjfbing sand, without being thickly veiled. I walked
to the beach, near the soldiers' burying-ground, and stood
two hours watching the waves as they lashed the bars of
sand. Their briny spray bedewed the graves of soldiers,
who had fallen far away from their kindred and their
loved ones, in their Northern homes. I could not repress
the tear of sympathy as these reflections came to me, and
I listcneil to the solemn moan of the ocean. Yet here is
the God of peace and love.
" He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.''
This evening we listened to Lieutenant Kingsley's thril-
ling description of the cruel irons he filed off from a num-
ber of slaves, who were too intelligent to be held without
severe measures. He said these men made soldiers who
hesitated not to brave the greatest dangers. His experi-
ence reminded us of the words of another :
'' Beware the time when that chain shall break,
That galls the flesh and spirit ;
PRTSONEBS IN IRONS. 329
When the yoke is thrown from the bended neck,
That is chafed too much to bear it.
There 's a Go^ above, that looks with a frown,
To see how long yon have trodden him down."
In distributing the remainder of our tracts and Testa-
ments to prisoners we met a number of very intelligent
men, who appeared to be men of Christian principles. I
always made it a point to say nothing to a prisoner of the
particular crime that placed him in confinement, but di-
rected his thoughts to the Lord Jesus, the lover of sinners.
As my sympathies became deeply enlisted in behalf of
many of the prisoners in irons, I inquired of Giptain Noyce,
in whose charge they were, what crimes these soldiers had
committed, that they should be confined in irons. ** No
crime," he answered.
"Then please tell me,** I said, "why they are here?"
" For drunkenness, being late at roll-call, absence with-
out leave, and selling government property, mostly ex-
changing rations fi)r groceries, such as sugar and tea.**
"Is this possible?" I exclaimed. "All these trivial
offenses have been settled in their own regiments wherever
else I have been."
" So they have wherever I have been, until I came
here. But you seem almost to disbelieve my word. If
you do, you can step into my ofiice and examine the record
for yourself. You will find these men sentenced from one
year to thirty-eight for the ofifenses I have named."
" I have no reason to doubt your word, but I will thank
you for the privilege of examining that record. Who pror
nounced these sentences?"
" Judge Attocha."
"Who is Judge Attocha?"
" He was a rebel captain, but after New Orleans fell
into our hands he took the oath of allegiance, and General
Banks promoted him by giving him tlie position of jud
advocate."
28
330 A woman's life-work.
'' That man is a rebel still/' I said. *' He is doing for
the rebel cause more than when at the head of his com-
pany, in the rebel ranks. You say a* few over 3,000 have
passed through your hands here and on the Dry Tortugas.
We read in the paper, the day we left New Orleans, an
Older from President Lincoln to draft men, and here are
three whole regiments laid upon the shelf. Are all these
Union soldiers?''
" They are all Union soldiers. We had a Confederate
here for murder, sentenced for a year. He was here only
three months, when he was pardoned ; and on your return
to New Orleans you may see him walking the streets a^
independent as yourself."
''This is a flagrant wrong in holding these 3,000 men.
Why do n't you report Judge Attocha?"
''He outranks me, and should I presume to do it I
would be put into a dungeon myself, and probably die
there without an investigation."
Sister Backus and I went into the office, and the cap-
tain brought us a great roll, as large around as a man's
hat I unrolled a few feet, and read the name, regiment,
company, offense, and penalty of each man, thus: For
drunkenness, fifteen years hard labor with ball and chain,
and all wages forfeited, except three dollars a month; for
selling government property, eight years hard labor, with
ball and chain, and all wages forfeited except three dollars
a month. Some prisoners were sentenced to longer, others
to shorter, terms; but upon all were imposed the same for-
feitures, and all were put in irons. One man from near
Battle Creek, Michigan, was sentenced for life. His ofl&nse
was simply "suspicious character." No other reason for
his sentence was given. I handed this fearful record to
sbter Backus, and we both read with heavy hearts. Every
free State was represented. What can we do, we asked
ourselves, for these poor men, some of whom are sick and
dying with scurvy ? This was a query hard to answer. I
VISITING THE PRISONERS. 331
retired to bed, but not to deep, wrestling in prayer to Him
Viho hears the sighs of the prisoner to lead me to a door
that would open for the 3,000 men in irons. The captain
was a kind-hearted man, and told me that he had in many
cases put the irons on so loosely that they could relieve
themselves when out of his sight, but he charged them to be
careful not to allow him to see them off. On account of
the injustice of their sentences, he had favered them wher-
ever he could do so, and keep his own record clear.
The next day, April 10th, was Sunday. The morning
was clear and beautiful. ' Sister Backus said :
" You are sick, or very weary; for you groaned in your
sleep so much last night"
" I am not conscious of having groaned," I said; '' but
I did not sleep a wink. I am distressed, and have spent
the night in prayer for a guiding hand to open a door of
relief for these prisoners, and I must see them before I
leave this island. I am this morning bearing as heavy a
heart as at any period of this deadly strife."
" Try and dismiss this subject if possible," she returned,
''as they have appointed a meeting for us in the regiment,
and I presume there will be an opportunity for you to see
the prisoners."
As best I could, I dismissed the all-absorbing theme;
and according to previous arrangement we met the regi-
ment, with a few gun-boat soldiers and the officers. We
enjoyed a favored season, and found a liberty of spirit our
dear Redeemer only can give. After closing the services
to the peace of my own mind, and to the apparent satis-
&cti6n of the large congregation, Captain James Noyce
came to me and said :
''You are certainly too weary to visit the prisoners
now."
" O no," was my reply, " if you will allow me that
privilege."
" They are in very large barracks, and it is a very ur
332 A woman's life-work.
pleasant place for a lady to visit; but if it is your wish,
these gun-boat officers wanted me to ask you if you had
any objections to their going."
" Not at all ; all can go who wish."
Captain Noyce and wife took us to the barracks, where
the prisoners were arranged in rows, six men deep, on both
sides and at the end, leaving an aisle three feet in width
between. In every berth there was a man in a horizontal
position; and all were in irons, either in handcuffe with
chain, or in a clog for the ankle, to which was attached the
chain and ball. What a scene! The click of the irons at
the least move greeted our ears. We walked midway of
the long aisle, and looked over the sad faces before us.
Upon the necks of those who stood near vermin were to
be seen. Filthy and ragged were many of these poor
boys. Some had been there a year, without change of
raiment. I could say nothing of the injustice of their
punishment ; but I exhorted them to come forth from this
furnace of affliction with higher, nobler, and holier aspira-
tions than ever before, and to lift up their heads in hope
of better days, although the heavens might then seem as
brass and the earth as bars of iron. I spoke a few min-
utes, and as I closed my remarks I turned to sister Backus,
standing by, and asked her to say a few words of encour-
agement, but she declined. She said that all she could do
was to weep with those who wept. I knelt to pour out
the overflowings of a full heart in prayer, and as I did so
they all knelt with me, amid the clank and clatter of irons
that made it necessary to wait a moment to be heard.
As we were leaving, two prisoners advanced a few steps
toward us and said, '* In behalf of our fellow-prisoners, we
return to you our thanks for the kind words which you
have spoken to us, and pray God to restore you safe to
your Northern homes." We bade them adieu, with many
tears. After leaving this place we visited other quarters
equally large, with similar experiences.
IN A ROW-BOAT. 333
I had become very much, interested in a number with
whom I conversed, who were very thankful for the Testa-
ments we gave them. They gave evidence of possessing
an earnest trust in God and of enjoying the cleausiDg
power of the blood of his dear Son.
Accompanied by the captain and his wife, on Monday
we visited the light-house, and ascended the flight of steps
of sixty-four feet. The weather was clear and calm, aud
we had a fine view of the Gulf of Mexico on one side and
the grand expanse of the ocean on the other. After din-
ner with the same party, accompanied by Lieutenant
Kingsley, we took a ten-oar row-boat and went to see the
burial-ground of four hundred deceased soldiers. The
graves were all plainly marked with head-boards. These
soldiers were mostly from Maine and New York, with a
few from New Jersey, Wisconsin, aud Michigan. This
was another solemn place for reflection. The soldiers'
grave-yard on this island diflers somewhat from all others.
Here their funeral dirge will never cease ; the requiem of
the ocean's surge will ever sound as if saying, *' Sleep on
undisturbed until the last trump shall wake the nations
of the dead !"
We returned to our boat, and pursued our way to the
extremity of the island. Here the picket -guards were
much pleased to see us. They had been on the island
about two years, ever since it was taken from the Confed-
crates. We gathered a basket of shells, and our men
gathered a quantity of crabs for breakfast. We were pre-
sented with some beautiful shells by one of the pickets.
We returned home, having had a ten miles' ride. We
passed the wreck of a ship burned many years ago, which
gave this island its name. We could clearly see its charred
cabin twenty or thirty feet below the surface. So clear
was the water it did not seem more than eight or ten feet
deep over the white sand, upon which beautiful shell-fish
were crawling, as if to beautify the grand scene so new to us.
334 A woman's life-m'ork.
In a long conversation with Lieutenant Kingsley con-
cerning liis religious experience, he said he was not satis-
fied with his attainments in the divine life, and very earn-
estly requested to be remembered at a throne of grace.
The moon rose full and clear on the sparkling face of the
deep, reminding us of David's sublime thoughts when he
exclaims in the eighth Psalm : *^ When I consider thy
heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars,
which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art
mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest
him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the an-
gels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor."
After our return we enjoyed a season of prayer, in
which Lieutenant Kingsley was earnestly remembered, and
he expressed himself greatly encouraged. Leaving all those
burdened souls with the Lord Jesus, who cares for all that
he has redeemed with his own precious blood, I retired
to rest
The next day one of the prisoners came to inform me
that their keeper had granted them the privilege of asking
me if I would take a petition from them to Greneral Weit-
zel, former commander of seventy of their number. They
had heard he was then in New Orleans, and they thought
if he could do any thing for their release he would, as he
was a very kind officer. I cordially assented to his request,
of course, and he thanked me with tears. In company
with the captain and wife we visited the gigantic fort that
had been two years in building, but was not yet completed.
It was to cost two million dollars. The brick wall at the
base is six feet thick, and about two hundred and fifty men
were employed on it when we were there. It is constructed
to mount forty cannons.
At supper I received a request from Lieutenant Fos-
ter, who was sick, to visit him. I found him in low
spirits. He wished me to write a request to his wife to
"^ome to him, which I did. I read to him some extracts
THE PRISONEBS' PETITION, 335
from an excellent little work, ''The Soldier's Armor," and
a chapter in the best of all books, closing with prayer.
Lieutenant Foster seemed a devout Christian man, and
expressed great satis&ction with this interview. The cap
tain smiled on my return, saying I had *' better remain
with them and be their chaplain."
On April 13th we made a few calls, and two of the
soldiers^ wives came for us to dine with them. I made a
copy of the record of the soldier prisoners, as a specimen
of their alleged crimes, and the penalties imposed upon
them. One of the prisoners brought me their petition,
which reads aa follows:
" Ship Island, April 12, 18G4.
'' Major-oenkral Weitzel: Sir, — We whose names are
af&xe4i prisoners on Ship Island, respectfully beg our release,
and that we be allowed to return to our respective foments.
AVe are here for various military offenses, and for nothing crim-
inal. Nearly all of us liave participated in the engagements
under your lead in this dejuu-tment, both on the battle-field
and on the long, wearisome marches we have been called to
undergo; and we have always followed cheerfully wherever you
have led. We naturally feel that you are the proper person to
appeal to to give us one more chance to redeem ourselves. And
we solemnly assure you that we never will, by any unsoldier-
like act, give you any occasion to regret any act of clemency
that you may exercise toward us. Many of us have families
dependent on us for support, and are suffering for our forfeited
wages. Many of us are already suffering from that dread
scouige — ^the scurvy — which must increase to a fearful extent
in this tropical climate as the season advances and sweep, us
away. And now that the campaign is open and advancing,
and men are needed, we hope we may be permitted to return
to the field,, and by future faithfulness in our country's cause
be able to return to our homes with what all good men so
highly prize — untarnished characters. Should you exercise your
influence in our favor in procuring our release, rest assured
you will ever be remembered with gratitude.''
This petition was signed by ''Moses Fuller," sentenced
to three years' hard labor, with ball and clmin, and forfeited
wages, except three dollars a mouth, charged with sclliug
336 A woman's life-work.
government property, to wit: exchanging his surplus
rations; but Judge Attocha would listen to no witness in
the case.'' Siztj-nine other names were appended to this
petition.
Our anxiously looked for steamer, the Clydt^ came in
view, but it was too windy for it to land until noon. It
brought about thirty prisoners, who had come in with a
flag of truce, mostly white refugees. One family was from
Mobile. The woman said the suffering from the war was
not much there, and all she knew any thing about had
enough to eat and wear. '* But I reckon poor people suf-
fer,'' she said, evidently wishing us to understand she was
not poor. She had two servants to wait on her and five
children. But her servants seemed to think they were
free here, and said they should leave her unless she paid
them wages. There were a number of slaves who came
here for freedom. I called on Colonel Grosvenor, the
commandant of the post, who appeared like a kind-hearted
officer, and he approved of the petition. The next day,
April 14tb, we took the Clyde for New Orleans, after
being a week on the island. On our way to the boat a
soldier came running to overtake us, with a message froixy
another soldier that he had that morning found peace in
believing. He would have come himself, only that he was
on picket-guard and could not leave; but he wanted us to
know that our mission was not in vain.
As Ship Island receded from view sister Backus, as well
as myself, felt thankful that our Heavenly Father had
ordered all things well in regard to our having been left
" 'way off in the Gulf of Mexico."
We reached our pleasant New Orleans home, at Elder
Rogers's April 16th, and were as kindly received as if we
had been friends of many years' standing. The next day,
after a good night's rest, we made an efibrt to find Greneral
Weitzel, but failed. At two P. M., we attended prayer-
meeting and had a rich season of communing with our
GENERAL WEITZEL. 337
Heavenly Father. There were present two chaplains, one
of whom had been at various points in Arkansas, and he
gave a thrilling account of some engagements his regiment
had had with the enemy. The other was just from the
dreadful fight at Alexandria, up the river. It is reported
and believed by thousands that the rebel general came to
General Banks with a flag of truce and informed him that,
unless he withdrew his colored troops, he should take no
prisoners and give no quarter. Report said further that
they were withdrawn and were not permitted to advance
on the enemy, as they desired, and the consequence was
an awful slaughter of our Northern men. The colored
troops complained of inactivity in the field more than any
thing else. We found along the whole length of the river
fortifications built, streets in cities cleaned, and the greater
part of manual labor performed by colored soldiers.
We renewed our efforts to find General Weitzel, visit-
ing all the offices of the army we could hear of. Some
reported that he was up Bed Biver assisting Greneral Banks,
but at length, with thoroughly blistered feet, I found him.
I introduced myself, as usual, by handing him my papers
from Governor Blair and F. C. Beaman, member of Con-
gress. After looking them over, he asked :
" What can I do for you?"
** I hope you can do something," I said, " toward re-
leasing three thousand of our soldiers now confined on Ship
Island and the Dry Tortugas, seventy of whom have served
under you; and here is a petition from them."
He took it, and read the petition, and not more than a
half-dozen names perhaps, before he became too much ex-
cited to read further. '* Mrs. Haviland," he said, " these
are as noble soldiers as I ever had serve under me. I don't
think Moses Fuller, or any of the others, is capable of doing
a wrong act They are the most conscientious men I ever
knew. Judge Attocha has no right to give these sentences;
he has no business in this department of the work."
29
338 A woman's life-work.
** Can 't you do something for their release?" I asked.
** K I were in command I would tell you very quick;
but General Banks is tlie one you ought to see."
'^I am aware of that; but he is beyond my reach up
Bed River. And they told me they sent him a petition
similar to this three months ago; but they had heard
nothing from it."
'* I will do what I can toward getting up a committee
to investigate and report these facts."
'^Do you think you can accomplish any thing in their
favor?"
"I fear it is doubtful, but will do what I can."
This was but little relief to me ; but what could I do
further? I called at the Christian Commission rooms, dis-
couraged and weary, while sister Backus returned to our
quarters. These rooms I found well filled with officers,
among whom were generals of high rank, indicated by tlie
eagles and stars on their shoulders.
*' Here comes Mrs. Haviland, from Ship Island. And
how did you find things there?" said brother Diossy.
''Sad enough," was my reply; and I handed him a
copy of the petition that I gave Greneral Weitzel, with the
extract of the record of fifteen prisoners, detailing the of-
fense and penalty of each. The officers gathered around
to see and hear.
" This is too bad," said one.
"Can't you do something for these soldiers?" I inquired.
" I wish I could ; but I can't leave my post."
Said another, '' It is a pity some one does n't."
I turned to him with, ''Can't you do something for
their release?"
"It is the same with me," he answered; "I can not
leave my post."
" Some one ought to see to their release. Can not
you see to their release?"
" I tell you, madam, it is hard to do much for each other.**
STATING THE CASE. 339
** Grentlemen," I responded, " I have learned one thing
thoroughly since bebg with the army, and that is, it is
almost impossible to get one officer to touch another's red-
tape. But position or no position, head or no head, these
flagrant wrongs ought to be plowed up beam deep. Here
comes an order from President Lincoln for drafting men,
and Judge Attocha has laid three thousand on the shelf,
when all they ask is to be permitted to return to their
respective regiments. That man is serving the rebel cause
more effectually than when at the head of his company in
the rebel ranks, by decimating the Union army ; and here
yuu have it in a tangible form. I am informed that Judge
Attocha was a rebel captain. He is a rebel still, and in
the exercise of this authority is banishing your soldiers for
trivial military offenses, in irons, with forfeited wages, for
which their families are now suffering.''
The thought struck me. What will these officers think,
to see a little old woman talking to them like this? for I
addressed them as I would a group of ten-year-old boys.
I had lost all reverence for shoulder-straps, and cast a
glance over my audience, when I saw a number in tears.
Surely there are hearts here that feel, I thought to myself*
I turned to brother Diossy, and said, '* You can leave your
position, and get another to occupy your place heref
''Yes, I could, if it would avail any thing; but it
would be impossible for me to accomplish what you have
done on Ship Island."
" Why? The idea seems to roe perfectly preposterous."
" I will tell you why. There is so much wire-pulling
here iu the army. I would be suspected of trying to dis-
place au officer for the position for myself, or for a friend
standing behind me. Consequently I could not have ex-
amined the record ns you did."
" That is true," rejoined a general. " I presume there
is not one of us that could have had access to those records
that you had, for the reason that Mr. Diossy has given.
V
340 A woman's life-work.
They know you have no such object in view, but see you
as a sort of soldiers' mother ; and records, or any sort of
investigation, would be opened to you when it would be
closed to us."
I told them I had not viewed it from that stand-point.
One of the officers, a very large man, six feet and four
inches tall, I should judge, stepped up to me in officer-like
style. " What do you propose to do with facts you gath-
ered on Ship Island V*
I looked up in his face, a little hesitating.
*' I say, madam, what do you propose to do with these
papers?"
"I can hardly answer inteHigently," I replied; "but
I will tell you one thing I do propose to do, and that is,
to take these facts from one officer to another, over all the
rounds of the ladder, until they reach the highest official
at Washington, but what justice shall be done to those
poor soldiers in irons."
He settled back, with softened tone. " Well, it ought
to be done."
The commanding appearance and tone, with the changed
mellow voice, of that officer is still vividly remembered.
There were two chaplains in this company who said
they would unite with General Weitzel on the committee
he proposed, and they could learn within a week whether
they could accomplish any thing in their behalf. If fa-
vorable. Chaplain Conway said he would write me at
Adrian, as we were soon to return to our homes, and
would write, as I requested, by two boats in succession, afl
guerrillas were at that time frequently interrupting boats.
If no letter was received within two weeks I was to accept
it as granted that nothing could be done for them in that
department.
At 2 o'clock we attended prayer-meeting, where we met
many soldiers and two chaplains. I was called upon to give
■i sketch of our 6hip Island visit, and at the close a frail
AT A COTTON-PEESS. 341
appearing young man was introduced to me at his own re-
quest, who had recently been a victim to this wholesale
injustice to soldiers. I had observed him weeping £ceely
while I was presenting the wrongs and claims of those pris-
oners. He said he had just been rescued from a like fate.
The oflfense charged was disrespect to an officer, who was
drunk at the time, and was unreasonable with him. ^'I
was impnident enough," he said, *' to answer back in my
own defense. For this I was thrown into prison, and re*
ceived the sentence of three years' hard labor with ball and
cliain, and forfeited all my wages except three dollars a
month."
Brother Diossy urged our going to Tortugas ; also three
chaplains thought it my duty to go and investigate the
condition of the two thousand prisoners there. So intent
were they on my going that they said I could have trans-
portation to New York by way of the Gulf, from thence
to Washington, and thence to my home. My reporting
these facts would be the speediest mode of ejecting their
release. But as Captain Noyce was in po89e68ion of the
records of all tliat passed through his hand, many at Tor-
tugas being of this number, and this extract was a correct
basis from which to judge the 3,000 at Ship Island and
the Tortugas, it seemed to me equivalent to a personal visit
Yet, if there was no other way to secure their release, I
would gladly do it
On Sunday, April 17th, we visited a cotton press, in
which were one hundred freed people, without a oomfortr
able bed for their sick and dying. As in other places, the
able bodied men were taken for soldiers, and their fiunilies
left homeless and unprovided for. They seemed at first to
look upon us with suspicion, either as whilom slave-owners
come to persuade them back to their old homes, or land-
sharks, to take the women and half-grown children to work
for little or nothing, until guerillas should ** gobble" them
up. But we soon disarmed them of all suspicion, and read
. ,_ ' "•, . -IIWI 11 ■■!
342 A woman's L.TPE-WORK.
aud spoke encouraging words to them, in passing through
this transition state. From them we went to the river
bank to see five hundred prisoners of war, captured up
Bed River. Many of them were citizens of New Orleans.
On returning we went to a meeting of the colored peo-
ple, where we found Uncle Tom's spirit waiting confidently
for the ** better day a-coming." A number of white sol-
diers present encouraged us with kind words. After re-
freshments we attended another meeting, and listened to
an instructive sermon by a colored chaplain, of the Second
*' Corps d'Afrique," as the colored regiments were called
in that part of the country. He was the first colored man
who received an appointment from the government
At 4 P. M. we visited the colored Sabbath-school of
seven hundred at the Medical College. Chaplain Conway
superintended. Colonel Hanks, General Banks's wife, aud
a number of other visitors were present Dr. John P.
Newman addressed the school, and gave a thrilling narra-
tive of his visit to the Holy Land, exhibiting the native
scrip, sandals, girdle, goat-skin bottle, a Palestine lantern,
and sundry other curiosities. After a few encouraging re>
marks by Col. Hanks, the superintendent unexpectedly
called upon me to address the school. After the session
closed I was introduced to Mrs. Banks, who wished me to
write out the sketch of the facts I had gathered on Ship
Island for her to send to her husband. This I did. She
said that Judge Attocha promised General Banks that he
would do all in his })ower for the Union cause, and now
in this way he was paying him for his promotion.
After giving my statements to Mrs. Banks, aud the
petition to General Weitzel, I felt that I could leave for
home on the first boat going North ; yet we had but little
hope of success in behalf of the the 3,000 prisoners in this
department We took passage on the hospital transport
TlumwAf bound for Cairo, with eighty wounded soldiers
^m the Bed Biver expedition, all discharged or furloughed
AT PIuAQUEMINE. 843
•
for home. Medical Inspector Stipp kindly gave us a state-
r(X)m. We were grateful to our Heavenly Father for the
many kind friends we everywhere found, although sur-
rounded by bitter enemies. The boat did not design stop-
ping until it reached Baton Bougc; but I wanted to stop
at Plaquemine to get the little girl Matilda, previously
mentioned, to take to her mother, wlio had made her es-
cape a few years before,
Afler break&st, diessmg wounds was the order of the
day. I kept off the flies during the process, as it was very
difficult otherwise to keep them away, the stench being so
great. Poor boys I there were all sorts of wounds among
them, — saber-cuts and bullet-wounds in the head, neck,
shoulders, arms, hands, body, legs, and feet, of all shapes
and sizes. O what horrid mangling I Yet the same pa-
tience that so remarkably characterized the Union soldier
everywhere was seen hero. It was hard to restrain tears
in their presence, but we gave vent to them when in our
state-room.
I was unexpectedly called for at Plaquemine, a£i I was
informed that Medical Inspector Stipp had ordered the
Thamaa to stop for me. They were already landing before
they found me. I caught up my bonnet and shawl and
threw them on while hastening through the cabin. Sister
Backus ran with me to the plank, where we snatched a
parting kiss. I jum])ed ashore, sister Backus, surgeons,
and a few others waving good-by signals with their hand-
kerchiefs. The Thomas pushed out into the channel, and
the next moment found me without my official papers,
pocket-book, or portfolio; all were gone on to Baton Rouge
with my friend Letitia Backus. In my haste they had
been forgotten. As I was inquiring for the name of Eliza's
sister of a colored picket, he recognized me at once, lieing
from Detroit He said he had heanl me s\yeak in the
colored church in that city, and urged me to speak for
them the next evening in their confiscated Methodist Epis-
344 A woman's i.ipe-work.
copal Church. I consented, and found the two sisters,
with little Matilda, almost wild with delight
I soon had the pleasure of introducing my Detroit
acquaintance, who called with a few other young men that
knew me ; and here, too, I was surrounded by friends, but they
expressed fears of my not securing transportation to Baton
Bouge, because their commander was cross and was known
to issue but few orders for transportation. But I went to
his office and told him what my business was in the army,
and why I called there; that, on leaving the floating hospi-
tal in haste, I forgot my official papers, and consequently
had nothing by which he could judge whether my state-
ment was correct or not. I, however, bad presumed to
call on him to see if I could secure trans2M>rtation for
myself and that little girl of twelve years.
"Well, I think your motherly face will take you to
Baton Rouge," he answered. "There is a regular packet
running to that city, and I will send a note by you to tlie
captain that Avill secure your passage, although it is not a
government boat. The captain has received favors from
me, and will gladly make this return."
He handed me a paper that requested a state-room
and board for us, for which continued thankfulness filled
my heart.
The friends of Eliza and of another escaped slave,
Fleming, came in to inquire after them, and to tell long
stories of the efforts put forth for their capture. But Bis-
sel. Slaughter, and "Old Eaton," as they called him, only
had the opportunity of gratifying themselves in threats.
The colored minister in the regiment took much pains
in circulating notice of the meeting, and the church vms
well filled. We enjoyed the presence of the Lord Jesus in
our midst There were those there who had felt the bitter
pangs of family seimrations, with cruel treatment, who
wept for joy in speaking of the precious boon of freedom.
Some of them were fearful that it would last no longer
A GUERRILLA CAPTAIN. 345
tbau the war; but I assured thcni, as officers ami soldiers
had done, that it was a fixed fact.
The packet Bank came in at five o'clock, P. M., April
21st, wheu we took leave of kiud frieuds who accompauied
us to the boat. After a pleasaut trip, we were received
with joy on our safe arrival at Batf^u Rouge. The next
day we visited the Forty-eighth Illinois Regiment, and dis-
tributed a quantity of I'eading matter. We also attended
the funeral of a deceased soldier, where the privilege was
granted me of making some remarks. I endeavored to
enforce the solemn truth, ''It is appointed unto man once
to die, and after this the judgment.'' I exhorted those
present to pre|)are to live in friendship with God, as that
alone would enable them to gain the victory over death.
On April 23d we visited the jail, in company with
brother Merrifield, aud distributed Testaments and tracts,
which were gladly received. Here we met a rebel captain,
who said he was a I'el^el of the strongest kind; had been
fighting to establish his government, and should do it again
if he lived to get to liis regiment I told him I had no
hope in his case, unless he would accept the truth con-
tained in the Testament, which I presented to him, and
said that if he would read carefully and prayerfully, and
drink in its spirit and practice its teachings, he would find
a religion pure and undefiled.
''Madam," he answered, "if I thought reading that
book carefully and prayerfully, and accepting pure and
undefiled religion, would lead me to lay down arms in de-
fouse of the Confederate Government, I would never read
a word in it or take one thought of religion; no, not to
save my soul."
This he uttered with a change from a flushed to a
blanched countenance. We afterwards learned he was a
captain of a guerrilla band, and had been sentenced to be
shot, but the sentence had been commuted. A Union
man who was a citizen here knew him, and said he ordered
346 A woman's life-work.
a Uuiou man out of his buggy, aud shot him dead ; then
he bayoueted him through and through, in the presence
of his wife and child ; then ordered tliem out, took the
horse and buggy, aud left the distracted wife aud child to
wait by the mangled body, until a |)asaer by hastened to
the city and sent a hearse for the body. Ou the way to
town for burial, the same band of guerrillas captured the
team and hearse, and left again the distressed mother and
child to get the mutilated body of the husband and father
taken to burial as best they could. ^' Such horrible deeds,"
said a Union man of this city, *^ will continue until gov-
ernment takes a more decided policy."
Ou Sunday morning, April 24th, we attended the sun-
rise prayer-meeting among the colored people, and more
earnest prayers I never heard for Union soldiers: never
heard more earnest pleading for the triumph of liberty.
God was truly overshadowing his own. Before the rising
of the sun, there was a large congregation. At nine o'clock
we were invited to make some opening remarks in brother
Tucker's Sabbathnschool of three hundred children. Then
we were conducted to another Sabbath-school, where we were
invited to make a few closing remarks. At 11 o'clock we
attended a meeting led by Chaplain Berge. On returning
to our boarding-place, we were called upon by brother Mer-
rifield, who accompanied us into the fort to address the
colored troops. Sister Backus referred to the im|K)rtauce
of raakicg themselves intelligent, so that when their rights
were established as citizens, they would be prepared to
vote understandingly. This brought smiles from the offi-
cers, and frowns from a few of the white soldiers. We
also attended a meeting conducted by the chaplain of the
general hospital, who preached a very appropriate sermon
for officers as well as soldiers. He warned against the
truckling, time-serving, and cotton-speculating manifesta-
tions in this war, and also the influence of Southern women
in sympathy with the rebellion.
COI»RED OFFICERS. 347
This was the sixth religious service we attended duriug
the day, in four of which we had takeu au active part
We retired to rest until the 6:30 o'clock meeting at the
Methodist Episcopal Church, now turned over to Chaplain
Brakeman, who was called away the previous day. He
had left an urgent request for me to address the soldiers
on Sabbath evening; but I told the chaplain who brought
the word we could make no further engagements, as we
were waiting hourly for a boat going up the river. Before
six, a steamer stopped, and we took passage for Natchez,
as we had business to see to concerning an orphan asylum.
One of the chaplains said if we could realize the good it
was doing the soldiers, we would visit them oftener ; that
there were more conversions during the week after we left
than in many months previously. An exhortation from a
mother reminded the soldiers of home and home influences.
We had a conversation with a colored captain, who
had just resigned on account of the constant indignities
heaped upon the colored troops. He was a man of wealth
and intelligence, and gave us an account of a review by
General Sherman, after General Butler left. When Gen-
eral Sherman came to him, he stopped to look at the bars
on his shoulders, and gruffly asked, ** Are you a captain?"
" Yes, sir," was the reply. " O, you are too black for a
captain,** said the general. At Fort Hudson, when our
troops were retreating under a galling fire, a colored cap-
tain, with his men, at the risk of his life, ran to bring out
General Sherman, who was luidly wounded, and would
have died but for the daring feat of the colored soldiers.
The colored captain lost his life, but General Sherman was
rescued. Since then he has spoken highly of colored sol-
diers, and of the brave captains that led them. My in-
formant said that after General Banks assumed command
they hoped for better treatment, but their hopes were vam.
As the men in December and January were in want of
shoes and clothing, he told General Banks that they wen"
348 A woman's life-work.
not in a suitable condition to work on the fortifications
where the detachment was ordered, but no attention was
paid to him. He inquired why his men could not be sup-
plied the same as the white soldiers. The reply he re-
ceived was, ''Don't you know you are niggers, and must
not expect the same treatment?** ''From that moment,''
he said, "I resolved to resign; but after waiting a little,
and seeing no better prospects, I did so, and shall not re-
sume arms until we can be treated as men."
In New Orleans two regiments of free colored men
were raised in forty-eight hours. Tliey were officered by
men of their color in grades as high as major by General
Butler, who said they were as good officers as he held
under him. We arrived in Natchez on the 2Gth, where
we met rejoicing friends. We found a number of the mis-
sionaries sick, among them sister Burlingame.
The day following we spent chiefly in writing, and dis-
tributing Testaments and tracts among soldiers. In the
evening we ^attended a protracted meeting, conducted by
two sisters. They acquitted themselves nobly, and had
three conversions. They exhorted earnestly and prayed
fervently. They invited us to take part with them. One
of the ministers told me they had worked in this meeting
until they were tired out, and then gave it over to these
mothers in the Church, whose labors the Lord was blessing
in the conversion of precious souls.
We made an effort to secure a house for an orphan
asylum.
Rebel sympathizers were making trouble all along the
line of our work. They tried every plan that could be
devised to drive the refugees back to their old plantations.
An infamous " health order ** was issued, comjielling every
colored person, not employed by responsible parties in the
city or suburbs, to go into the " corral," or colored camp.
Many were employed by colored citizens, who were doing
all they could to find work for them. But on the day this
RELIGIOUS SERVICES. 349 '
order took effect soldiers were sent to hunt thein out of all
such places, as no colored party was deemed responsible;
aud all who were not actual members of these colored fam* \
ilies were driven out at the point of Union bayonets.
They gathered two hundred and fifty, mostly women
aud children, and drove them through the streets of
Natchez on a chilly, rainy day, and marched them into
the camp of four thousand in c<mdemned tents. One of
the colored citizens told me that she was paying her woman
Avages, and allowing her to have her three children with
her, but the soldiers drove her out into the rain. Men
and women tantalized them as they were marching through
the streets, saying: ''That's the way the Yankees treat
]^ou, is it? You'd better come back to us; we never
treated you like that." Many of the women went into
camp crying. Said an old colored man: ''Never min',
thar 's a better day a comin'. T would be strange if Uncle
Sam had n*t a few naughty boys." He was one of the
group that was driven in.
We heard, April 30th, that there was a skirmish near
our lines the evening before. A party of scouts had shot
into the pickets, and they retreated ; but we did not learn
whether any were killed. News came to us of Calvin
Fairbanks*s release from the Kentucky penitentiary. Wc
trusted that the same Deliverer would open the prisou-
door for the three thousand soldiers on the two islands in
the Gulf.
At nine o'clock A. M., May 1st, we attended the organ-
ization of the fifth colored Sabbath-school in the city. At
eleven A. M. 'we went to Wall Street Church, and listened
to an interesting discouree by Chaplain Trask, of the Fourth
Illinois Begiment. At two P. M., at the Colored Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, we heard brotl)er Burlingame.
After a short exhortation by brother Fitzhugb, twelve
Came forwanl for prayer, aud some were blessed with jiar-
don. At six P. M. we attended a soldiers' mectiug at
350 A \V()MAN^S I.IFE-WOUK.
Wall Street Church, in which we took a piirt ; also a num-
ber of soldiers spoke and prayed, lietwecu meetings I
wrote a letter for a colored man to his wife» who is stiU a
slave in Woodvillc, tweutv miles distant.
I was sick with a chill and fever May 2d, and the
nearest to being homesick since I left Michigan. The next
day I was better. Here I met Joseph Warner, with whom
I had been acquainted from his c&ildhood. He was a lessee
at Waterproof. He had a large plantation, and two hun-
dred hands employed. He was twice taken by guerrillas.
He told them they could hang or sboot him; but they
might rest assured that forty of their men's lives would
]yi\y for his, and forty men stood ready to take his place;
and they let him go each time. A distressed mother came
to us to inquire for her two daughters, that her mistress
had sent to Texas to elude the effects of the Proclamation
of Emancipation. She had begged her mistress to allow
them to remain in town, if she could not have them with
her. The mistress said, '* No, you shall never have your
girls with you again, not even to give you a drink of water
if you are dying. ** This was at the retaking of Baton
Rouge, when the mistress considered herself again in full
power ; but she was soon to suffer herself. When that city
was retaken by Union men, the only son of the mistress
Avas burned to death in the house at which he was board-
ing. Upon this she fell into fits. Yet, Pharaoh-like, she
persisted in keeping the slave-girls in Texas.
A number of missionaries called on us, and urged me
to remain with them a few weeks longer; but for two
reasons I had to decline : First, those three thousand sol-
dier prisoners were daily on my mind; and, second, my
|)oor health made it a duty to return home.
Skirmishing four miles off took place May 5th, and we
could see the blue smoke of battle. The shooting seemed
near us. How little this terrible war was realized in our
own free State homes I
DELPHINE AND CHILD. 351
I met on the street a mulatto girl seventeen years old,
weeping, and inquired the cause of her grief. She said
her owner, Mrs. Morehcad, liad been beating her.
** Why do you remain with her?" I asked.
"She keeps my baby locked up," was her reply; ''and
she says if I leave I shall never have him."
I told her that I could take her to the provost-marshal,
who would give her an order for her child. At this she
cheered up, and went with me, and received an order, in
case she could not get it without She said she. would go
back and pack her few things in her old trunk, and then
watch her opportunity when the mistress was out to bring her
baby to the freedmeu s store. After the child was secured
I sent a soldier with her, who brought her trunk, without
letting any one in the hotel know of her movements.
Only a short time elapsed before we saw Mrs. Morehcad
in front of the hotel, looking up and down the street for
her Delphine, who kept herself hid in the freedmen's store
with her little Charlie, al)out two years old. Just before
the war Mr. Morehead had brought her away from her
mother in St. Louis, Missouri, and the height of her am-
bition was to get back there. I secured transportation for
herself and child to Cairo, and paid her fare to St. Louis.
But she was in constant fear of her former owners.
Her history was a sad one. She was bought for their
hotel fancy girl, and the father of her child was her o^vn
master. The child resembled his father so much that he
was fi^quently taken by strangers to be the child of the
mistress. The mother was two-thirds white ; and the Ro-
man nose, straight hair, and white skin of the child would
not ^ve a stranger the least idea that he had even the
sixteenth part of African blood in his veins.
As a boat was expected to arrive within an hour, we
took leave of the many kind friends, and repaired to the
wharf-boat Soon Mrs. Morehead followed, and called for
Delphine ; but the trembling girl caught her babe and lii '
352 A woman's life-work.
But as her mistresB repeated the calls, she at length came
to me with the child, asking, '' What shall I do? I would
rather throw myself and baby into the river than go back
to her." Said her mistress, '' I tell you, Del., I Ve got an
officer to come and take you to jail for stealing." I told
Delphine she could rest assured that none of the officers
would trouble her, for they informed me they should not
notice her mistress's complaints, let them be what they
would, as they had had more trouble with that rebel fam-
ily than a little ever since they occupied the city. I told
her to leave Charlie on the boat, and go out on the levee
and tell her mistress plainly that she was going to St Louis
to her mother, and not be so excited. She did so, and
Mrs. Morehead kept her nearly an hour trying to coax,
hire, and frighten her, but without avail. Delphine all
this while was trembling with fear. I believe if she had
seen an officer coming ^vith her mistress, she would have
thrown herself and child into the river. Mrs. Morehead
at length came upon the Avharf-boat. When Delphine saw
her coming she snatched up her child, and ran to the rear
of the boat, and the mistress after her. Again she came
to me with " AVhat shall I do?" I replied, "Sit down
here by me and hold your child, and she will not dare
touch you." She trembled as if having an ague fit. Soon
her mistress stood before us in a rage, and turned to me :
** You came into my kitchen with an order, and took
ner, when she was doing better than you ever dare do."
** I never went into your kitchen," I said. "A soldier
went with her for her trunk. I understood an officer called
on you and called for her child, at her request, before slie
came to me."
" It 's a lie. Delphine lied about me."
Said sister Backus, " I should n't think you would
want such a person about you, if that is true."
** Well, the child seems so near to me. I 've always
bad the care of it."
ON THE BOAT. 363
She left lis at length with a threat that she would bring
the officers to take her to jail for stealing.
The Kennd came in at 11 o'clock A. M., May 6th,
bound for 8t. Louis, Missouri, and we went aboard. As
we pushed out from shore, Delphiue clapped her hands.
*' Now i know Mistress Morehead can trouble me no more;
thank G(xl, I 've got my Charlie too ! Nobody knows what
I have gone through since 1 've been in this city." We
arrived in Vicksburg May 7th, and took breakfast at the
Soldiers' Home, where we met Ex-Governor Harvey, a sol-
diers' friend. Here was a lady who had charge of the
body of her brother, killed up Bed River, taking the re-
mains back to Iowa.
After spending a little time in this large city of soldiers,
whose tents whitened the adjoining fields, we left;. On
the day this city fell into Union hands, report said, thera
was an old man very confident of the success of the Con-
federate government, and he said that God could not let
it fail; if he did, he would never believe there is a God.
When the gun-boats came in, and he was told the city was
taken, he would not believe it, until he rose up from his
chair and saw marching columns of soldiers, with their
bayonets glistening in the Fourth of July sun. He im-
mediately sank back in his chair in a faint, and soon died.
May 8th was a sort of a war Sabbath. The night be-
fore our boat ran aground, and it t(x>k three hours to get
her off. Many of the passengers dressed, and made ready
to escape at the first possible chance, in case she should
become wrecked. We were told that at one time the water
was three feet deep in her hull. By making great efibrt
the men succeeded in pumping it out. She run slowly,
being a very large boat We had a variety of passengers
on board, officers of various ranks, soldiers, missionaries,
preachers, and a few secessionists. Major-general Hunter
remained with us two days.
Quite an excitement arose over the arrest of a smuf
30
354 A woman's life-work.
gler of goods through our lines. He was thought to be con*
uected with the little steamer Baltic. There was a miyor
and a provost-marshal, from Baton Rouge, who followed
up the matter. When the prisoner was brought to the
rear of tlie boat, with his hands tied, it created much feel-
ing among a dozen colored people, until they heard the
major nsk him if he had taken the oath of allegiance.
He answered gruffly, " No, and I never will."
This led the major to ask other questions concerning
the trade of the BaUie.
*' I will tell you nothing about it, if I stand here till
I die, and you may go to ."
This brought the sympathy of the colored people, as
well as of the rest of us, down below zero. Said one col-
ored man, ''Let him stand there, then, until he dies.**
But within an hour he consented to be sworn to tell the
truth, and nothing but the truth, and the major examined
him in the pi'esence of many witnesses. Major-general Hun-
ter one of them.
On Monday I introduced myself to General Hunter, as
usual, by my letters. ^
**How long have you been in the army," he asked,
"and how far?"
In reply to his queries I gave him a sketch of our
work. I mentioned General Tuttle's refusal to grant us
transportation, the wrongs of the colored soldiers, and the
history of the three thousand prisoners on Ship Island and
Dry Tortugas, and stated the fact that some missionaries
and missionary teachers had advised me to say nothing of
these wrongs, however fliigrant. I also called his attention
to the printed order placed in our hands, that we were
not to report any movements in the army, either verbally
or by writing, and asked his advice whether it was wiser
to report or to keep silent
"Mrs. Havilaud," he replied, "I am glad you have
^leen in the army so long, and I am glad you went so fiir.
MAJOR-GENERAL HUNTER. 355
and I will explain that order. You have observed move-
ments of troops from one place to another just on the eve
of battle. These are the matters you are not to report;
but the wrongs you have met you may proclaim on your
arrival at home from the house-tops."
I thanked him for this advice, for it was to me a great
relief. It. seemed to trouble him. After pacing the cabin
to and fro a few minutes, he came to me and said :
''Mrs. Haviland, we have had a good deal of sifting
done in the army, and more must be done yet Did Gen^
eral Tuttle see tliose papers you gave me?"
"He did," I auswered.
''Copperheads have no business in the army in the
exercise of such authority as this. General Tuttle ran for
governor on the Copperhead ticket in Iowa last year.
What right has a copperhead to be lifted up here, where
loyal men are needed ? I have never seen the least cause
to abandon my first conclusion, that the only way to crush
this rebellion was to emancipate and arm the slaves; and
if I could have been permitted to carry out my plan of
taking Kentucky into my field, as my rank and position
entitled me to do, I should have proclaimed freedom to
the slaves as fast as I reached them. The strength I could
have gathered from the slave population would soon have
been two hundred thousand men, and that number of stand
of arms was all I asked. But the vacillating policy of the
government would not permit it. I saw clearly that this
was the only policy that would prove successful, and I
thought every body else must see it when I first proclaimed
it in South Carolina. It seemed there were others who
took a different view, and my order was superseded."
Said sister Backus, "You have the satisfaction of know-
ing that your policy had to be adopted before the nation
could succeed."
"O, yes," replied he reluctantly; "but it is with regret
that I think of the drafting of thousands, which might hav
356 A WOMAN^S I.IFE-WORK.
been avoided just as well as not. Tliere was no necessity
for the draft."
Sister Backus remarked, '*As a nation, we must suffer
defeats until it reaches the right position, not only in arm-
ing colored men, but in paying them just wages; for they
make as good soldiers as white men."
A bystander said, "I don't know that they make as
good soldiers as white men, from the fact that they are
not so intelligent. Here is General Hunter, and I presume
he Avill say the same thing" — turning to him for an answer.
In a decided tone the general said, "I shall say no such
thing. They make the best of soldiers; for, first, they are
kind and docile; and, second, they are apt to learn. They
learn military tactics very readily, and ought to have the
same wages as any other soldier. All along this river
I find one continued series of wrongs inflicted upon
the negro."
We told him of the infamous order by Dr. Kelley,
sanctioned by General Tuttle, and published under the
specious guise of ** Health Order," to drive the slaves back
to their masters. He shook his head in disgust.
"Why does the head of this serpent rise up at almost
every point? When it appeared in the department under
my command I crushed it at once."
At the mouth of Bed River three women came aboard,
by permission of the gunboat officers stationed there. Their
object was to hire men, whom they wanted to gather cane
for working up into weaving reeds. One of them reported
to Dr. Long that she had been watching a couple of ladies
on our lx)at, and she believed them spies, for they seemed
to have a great deal of writing to do. Dr. Long hap-
pened to know enough about the ladies reported as spies
to allow sister Backus and myself to pass unmolested.
But these ladies were themselves suspected of being spies.
We reached the city of Memphis May 10th. Sister
Backus had been quite sick for three days, but was now
i
HOME AGAIN. 357
a little better. We called at the Christian Commission
Booms, and got a market-basket full of reading matter for
distribution.
The next day was quite cold and freezing. We stopped
at Columbus a short time. Here we secured a paper giv-
ing an account of the terrible slaughter at Fredericksburg.
Rumor had it that fifteen thousand were killed and
wounded; that Lee was driven back thirty miles; Grant
and Butler were said to be pushing on to Bichmond, and
were now within a short day's march of the rebel capital.
General Hunter was quite sanguine in hope that Bichmond
would soon fall.
On May 13th we' arrived at Cairo, and took leave of
the friends whom our few days' acquaintance had made
dear. We reached home on the 18th, amid the rejoicing
of dear children and friends. It is no wonder the soldiers
we met were delighted to see a Northern face, for it
reminded them of their home associations. Intercession
unceasing went up for the three thousand soldier prisoners
banished to the Gulf Islands. The mail had brought noth-
ing from New Orleans. By this I was to understand that
nothing could be done for them there. Congress was still
in session, and I immediately wrote a full account of their
wrongs to congressman Bcaman, and urged the presenta-
tion of the case to the war department.
Without giving myself time to rest, I hastened to
Detroit, to report our work and give an account of the
uujust sentences of those prisoners at Ship Island and the
Tortugas. While making my statements in Captain E. B.
Ward's office, he took them down to forward them to
B. F. Wade, chairman of the Committee on the Conduct
of the War; but he said, "You must go to Washington
and report these facts to the committee in person." I told
him I had written the full details to my friend, F. C.
Beaman, member of Congress, and I thought he would do
all that could be done. Ho answered, "I shall send these
y
358 A woman's life-work.
items to B. F. Wade, and our letters will make good enter-
ing wedges; but the living tongue will do more than the
pen." I told him I was ready to go or do any thing I
could for their release, but still hoped to h«ur from New
Orleans. I would wait a week longer and rest Then, if
I had means, I would go. He said he would see to that,
and I returned to my home.
Within a week I received a note from him, stating that
he had just received a letter from B. F. Wade, requesting
me to come at once and bring my extracts from the record
I had examined on Ship Island. I was soon on my way
to Detroit, and at nine o'clock, A. M., on the following
day, I was in Captain Ward's office, ready to take the
boat for Cleveland on my way to Washington. I waited
but a few minutes when, the captain came in with a letter,,
which he threw in my lap, saying, "There is a letter for
, you to read." The first sentence was, "The exhibition of
these letters before Secretary Stanton has proved sufficient.
Judge Attocha was dismissed immediately, and a committee
is to be appointed to investigate and release those prison-
ers at once. There is therefore no necessity for Mrs. Hav-
iland's presence on that score. General Tuttle is already
relieved." On reading these glad words, I remarked that
I never had been a shouting Methodist, but I felt more
like shouting over these glad tidings than I ever had done
in all my life. If I had not been spoiled for singing by
being raised a Quaker, I would have sung the doxology.
I wrote an article for the Detroit Tr^bu.'ne containing
these facts, and stating the prospects of the immediate
release of the three thousand prisoners on Ship Island and
Dry Tortugas. I sent the paper to Captain J. Noyce, and
very soon received a reply that my letter, ^vith the 2K6t<n«,
was the first intimation they had received of any thing
being done in their behalf. He said, "I sent the letter
and paper to the prisoners, and they eagerly read them in
all their companies, until I doubt whether a whole sen-
BELEASE OF PRISONERS. 359
teuce can be found together." A few weeks later I received
another letter from Captain Noyce, in which he stated
that the committee was investigating, and that but one
person in seventy-five was found unworthy of being released
at once; but that very soon all would be restored to their
regiments.
300 A woman's I.1F£-W0BK.
Chapter XIII.
FREEDMEN'S AID COMMISSION.
Our Freedmen's Aid Commission was cularged in June,
1864. Dr. George Duffield was made president; Drs.
Hogarth and Chase, vice-presidents ; David Preston, treas-
urer ; and B. C. Durfee, secretary. The board of directors
appointed me its agent, and allowed me a salary of forty
^dollars a month. This is the first remuneration I received
for my labors; but seeing unfaithful officers dismissed,
prisoners released, and the suffering and dying relieved,
was a satisfaction &t exceeding dollars and cents.
I received invitations to address congregations in large
towns, where much was done in gathering supplies. At a
Union thanksgiving meeting in Jackson, $97 was collected,
and at a similar meeting at Grass Lake, the same day, $70;
at Luce's Hall, Grand Ilapids, $55 ; at Methodist Episco-
pal Church, Pontiac, $44 ; and at Leoni Wesleyan Meth-
odist Conference, $68.65. Many other liberal donations
were also received. Auxiliaries were organized, and I
prepared to return to the field of desolation, whither duty
seemed to be loudly calling me. I concluded to suspend
Raisin Institute until the close of the war. I received
propositions from a number of graduates of the Michigan
University to take it in charge ; but the care of preparing
for another academic year was more than I could pro{)erly
undertake, and do justice to the limitless field of mission
work that was open before us.
Li September I had a car-load of supplies ready, and
$400 in money. Of this amount, $298 was placed in my
hands by friends at Adrian, with the request of the donors
tbat it should be retained in my own hands for disbursement
RKFIJOEES IN KANSAS. 361
on reaching tlie scene of sufiering. At Chicf^ appeals were
made to the Soldiers' Aid Society and Christian Commission
for aid in the frecdnien's dejiartnicut, and also to myself
jiersonally, on account of the great distress in Kansas after
General Price's raid through Missouri, followed by Colonels
Lane and Jeunisou, who drove thousands of poor whites
and free<lmcn into that young State. I decided to hasten
thither, with Mrs. Lee, of Hillsdale, as an assistant
At Leavenworth we met J. R Brown, half-brother of
Captain John Brown, of Ossawatomie, who had charge
of both white refugees and freedmen and a sort of soldiers'
home, under General Curtis. He kindly offered me head-
quarters in his establishment, consisting of two large two-
story frame buildings, with one hundred occupants each.
I called on General Curtis, who telegraphed fo> my goods
to be forwarded in preference to other army supplies, and
gave me passes through the State to Fort Scott My object
was to investigate all intermediate towns where refugees
and freedmen were congregated. He also gave me liberty
to use an order he had given J. R. Brown, to call upon
quarter-masters for half, whole, or quarter rations, wherever
suffering for food existed. These investigations enabled me
to judge of the amount of aid needed at each point
As my supplies had not reached me, J. B. Brown filled
two large trunks with sanitary supplies for the greatest
sufferers. Thus supplied, I took the stage for Fort Scott
My first halt was at Quindaro, a small town built on
rocky bluf& and in deep ravines. A few years previously
it was designed by a few speculators to be an important land-
ing on the Mississippi ; and they built a few stone houses, a
long wood store-house, and a number of small log-houses,
which had been left untenanted, but were now filled with
white refugees and frcalmen. A large majority were
women and children. The ablc-lxxlied men among the
freedmen were in the Union army, but many of the men
whose refugee fiimilies were here were in the Confederat'
31
362 A woman's tjfe-wouk.
army. General Price had niadc terrible havoc of all who
were suepected of beiug favorable to the Union. Then
followed Colonels Laue and Jenuison, who made as great
havoc of the rcmaiuder. Those who fled for their lives
were crowded into every niche of available room.
In one open log-house I found twenty-three wretched
inmates. Four of them were women, two of whom were
sick from exposure in husking corn during cold, snowy
weather. Eight of the children had the measles, and three
of them died ; two others seemed near death's door. Two
women were hauling a small tzee-top to their door to chop
for night-wood. The feet of these poor women were ex-
posed to the mud and snow, which was melting. O, what
squalid wretchedness was here! Not a bed, chair, table,
or whole dish in this gloomy abode! I inquired how they
slept. I was shown a rag-carpet on the fence, which they
obtained for washing for one of the neighbors. This was
spread before a large fire-place, and all lay down upon that
but two, who kept up the fire, and watched to keep those
asleep from burning. Tliey said the man who owned the
adjoining wood-laud kindly allowed tlwrn all the wood they
needed that was on the ground. Tliey borrowed an ax to
chop it. I found the four women had husked com on
shares until two were sick with pneumonia; and the corn,
boiled without salt, was all they had to eat during the five
weeks they had been there. Now they were nearly out,
niid what to do they knew not, as they were forbidden to
go into the field to husk more. I made out an order
for rations, and measured their bare feet for shoes and
stockings. I took one of the women to the post-office,
where I had left my trunks, and gave her four army-
blankets, sis pairs woolen socks, six pairs of drawers, four
pairs of stockings, and two pairs of shoes, which were all I
had to fit them. As I piled the al)ove articles uixm the
shoulders and arms of the poor woman she wept for joy.
Tl)e postmaster said, ** Is this your business here?"
CHILDREN OF WANT. 363
On receiviDg an affirmative reply, he said, with tear-
ful eye:
"To-morrow morning the ground will Be frozen, and I
will go with you where the most of these poor people are."
I procured lodging with a widow Johnson and her son,
who was with Captain John Brown's party all through the
border- ruffian troubles. My kind friend regretted my
having made the mile and a half walk to the log-house in
the field and back to the post-office before supper,' as I had
not taken refreshments since leaving Leavenworth, very
early. But when I told her of the distress I found, she
rejoiced with me at the partial relief I had given them.
After a good rest and an early breakfast, I went with
the kind postmaster to visit the most wretched tenements of
both white and colored, and found eighty-one to report for
rations to the commander in Wyandotte. The postmaster
and Mr. Johnson agreed to go with their team every week
and distribute to the destitute ; and if others were found
equally needy they would report them to me on my return.
After descending steep clif& and climbing rugged rocks
until past noon, we returned for dinner; but before it was
finished the stage came along, and I took it for Wyan-
dotte, where we arrived late in the evening. The weather
for October was cold, and freezing quite hard.
Wheu I informed Mrs. Halford, the landlady of the
Gamo House, of my errand, she was much pleased, and
said that her duties forbade her to assist me, but she
would do her part in giving me a welcome home while in
their town. She introduced me to a family of benevolent
ladies, who promised to aid me in my investigations, but
did not think I would find the suffering in their city that I
found in Quindaro. One of my new friends went with me
to a neighborhood where there were new arrivals, and
found many in a perishing condition with cold and hun-
ger. From thence we went to cJd sttibles and sheds crowded
with destitute human beings, both white and colored. T
364 A woman's life-work.
dear friend who volunteered to guide to tliese children of
want wept herself sick as we listened to the stories of their
flight from homes in Missouri and Arkansas. Here was a
woman, named Melinda Dale, with six small children and
a sick husband, who had to flee for their lives. A few
pieces of old tentrcloth, picked up about an old camp, made
their bed. Children were crying for bread, the mother
was sick with grief, and the father had a high fever. A
blanket was given them, with a few loaves of bread ; and
after the reading of Scripture and prayer we left for the
relief of others.
Our next call was upon the wife and five small children
of Lieutenant Miller, who was supposed to be in a rebel
prison. The wife was in great distress, not knowing
whether her husband was living or perishing by starvation.
He was taken prisoner one year before, and she and her
children were in a starving condition. They occupied an
old Sibley tent These were also, with many others, re-
ported for rations, and immediate relief was given. A few
weeks previously rations were withheld, which caused great
suffering with many. I gave rations to Barbara Stewart,
with two sick children, whose husband was murdered by
guerillas because he was known to be a Union man. I next
called on Green F. Bethel, who left his Arkansas home
with a large family, consisting of his wife, nine children,
and aged mother. All except himself were taken down with
the measles, soon after passing through Fort Scott BGs
mother soon died, and was buried by the way-side. A day
later his wife and infant child died, and were also buried
by the way. Not long after the last three children died,
and were also buried by the road-side. He said, " 0,
Avhat sorrow was mine ! One-half of my family are gone !
The light of my household seemed vanishing! Were it
not for the help of my Lord I should have fainted under
this sweeping affliction. My wife and mother were Chris-
tians many years. We were memlxjrs of the Cumberland
AN AFFLICTED FAMILY. 365
Presbyterian Church." We found the poor man in a hard
chill. It came on every third day, and was followed with
high fever. The two intervening days he was able to use
his team in little jobs of hauling, and thus he kept his
children and team alive. I inquired why he did not make
his condition known to the citizens of that town. He said
no one knew any thing about him, and there were so many
making pretensions to loyalty who were not loyal, that
none would know but he was of that class. '' My wife's
brother," he said, " came with his family when we did, and
he also lost his wife on the way, following the Union sol-
diers. Our lives were threatened, and the rope was placed
around my neck once, but by the entreaties of my wife
and children the rebels concluded to let me go a day or
two longer; then if I would not join with them in sup-
porting the Confederate government, 2 was to be hung or
shot. The same threat was made to my brother-in-law,
and we hid in the woods three weeks, before we left in
the night for the lines of the Union soldiers. We started
with two wagons, and had nine horses and three cows.
But they gave out one after another, and we had to leave
them all on the way, except the youngest and best team,
which I have yet I have a good farm, and so has my
brothcr-iu-law ; but if we are ever permitted to return to
our homes, it is doubtful whether we shall find a building
left."
He wept freely, as well as his children. The oldest
daughter, Amy, of seventeen, leaned her head upon my
shoulder, and wept aloud. She said, '* We could all boar
this furnace of afiliction much better if our dear mother
had been spared us."
With prayer we left this house of mourning, with a re-
quest for the afflicted brother to call at head-quarters for
the rations I should report for the six in his fiimily. Said
he, on taking the jiarting hand, '* One favor I ask of you,
my dear sister; and that is, your continued prayers th9'
/ m'
366 A woman's l.IFE-WORK.
the Lord may open a way for us where there now seems
to be no way."
My friend who served as guide said, *' My head aches
rith weeping, in witnessing tliese heart-rending scenes. I
must decliue going with you farther this afternoon. I
V shall be obliged to take my bed. I do not see how you
live, as you meet similar scenes so frequently."
These visits made us quite late for dinner, but my kind
hostess kept it waiting for me. With iuterest, she sat by
my side to listen to a rej)ort of my morniug calls. She
was surprised to learn of so much suffering near them.
After dinner I resumed my work. On my way I met a
woman shivering in aii ague chill, thinly clad, and iveeping.
i inquired for the cause of her grief. She said she had
been hunting for washing or something to do, to purchase
bread for her three little children, for they had had noth-
lug to eat for a whole day. I told her I would call on
her before night. I found a numl)er in as great distress
as in my morning calls. One man, who lost his wife,
leaving him with six small children, had found work six miles
away ; but he returned at night to care for his little ones.
The oldest child, ten years of age, was left during the day
in charge of the five younger ones. For the sake of fur-
nishing bread for his children, he walked the twelve miles
liack and forth daily. I found tl)e woman whom I had met
on the street in a high fever, with an infant of eight monuths
in her arms, and two of her children crying for bread. I
took them a few loaves, and gave her an order for rations.
Tlie huslmnd had been pressed into service when they had
been but two weeks from home, and was not allowed to see
his wife and children to say g(KMl bye. She had heard noth-
ing fn^m him since. In the corner lay a crippled dis>
charged colored soldier, who was also suffering for food.
I stepi^ed into a grcx^ery and purchased sugar and crackers
for the sick and for the children.
My next call was on another woman with six children.
AGNES EVERETT. 367
Her busbaud had bceu iu the army a long time, and she
had uot heanl from him. She feared he was sufiering in
a rebel prison. Near this cabin was Agnes Everett, with
five children between the ages of fifteen months and twelve
years. Her two youngest children were in a starving con-
dition— ^the baby, she said, had been too sick to allow her
to do much in procuring food. Her boy of twelve years
was her only dependence iu getting little jobs of wood-
sawing or doing chores for cold victuals, or a pint of meal
which she made into porridge. The little emaciated baby
was fed with the porridge. Its face was wrinkled like an
old person's of ninety years. Its eyes were sunken and
glassy; its hands looked more like birds^ claws than like
human hands. '* Don't, Clarkic; |X)or little Fnnnie is so
sick she must have this," said the mother to the little fel-
low who watched the mother when her attention was occu-
pied for a chance to snatch a floating lump. As I looked
upon these famishing children I could not refrain from
^veeping. Her husband and grown son were in the army.
She had been looking for money from them for a number
of months, but had heard nothing from them. I gave
them two loaves of bread for their supper,, and directed
them to meet me at the post-office the next day at ten
o'clock A. M.y and I would give her an order for six
half rations until she received help from her husband.
This closed my day's work. On my return to the Garno
House, Mrs. Ilalford iuformed me that the lady who went
with me in the morning was sick, for she had hardly
ceased weeping over those pitiful families we visited iu the
morning.
At the time appointc<l I met a number at the post-
office, among wliom was Agnes Everett, to receive orders
fi>r half, quarter, or whole rations, and gave out a few
articles of clothing. As I gave Agnes the order for rations
I charged her strictly to give the two younger children n'"
strong f(Mxl for a few days, but only a little at a time ^
368 A woman's mfe-work.
often, especially the youngest, as it would live but a few
hours if she alloweil it to eat all it cnived. A number of
gentlemen listened to my charge, and as the little group
left the office one of them inquired where I was from.
With my reply I gave them my papers from the governor
and members of Congress of Michigan. After reading they
introduced themselves, — Dr. Wood, Dr. Speck, Lawyer
James, and others. Dr. 8peck informed me of a &mily
whose youngest child actually starved to death three days
before. He was called when it was dying, but too late to
save it He said, ''There were two other families who
would have died soon if the citizens hud not rendered the aid
needed; and there would have been another death by star-
vation before we should have known it, here in our midst,
but it took you to come from Michigan to find it out."
Lawyer James said there was a family on the hill opposite
the ferry he would like to sec visited, but there were so
many crowding iu here of late that it seemed as if they
had done all they ixwsibly could. They were rejoiced to
learn of the liberty granted by General Curtis to issue
orders for rations. Said Dr. Wood, "The freedmen are
seeking for work, no matter- what kind, but the white
refugees are the most do-nothing set I ever saw.** While
I acknowledged his |)osition true iu most cases, yet there
were noble exceptions, and I mentioned the Bethel &mily
and stated their condition. One gentleman said he would
look after that family. In confirmatidu of his remarks I
told of a family of jx)or whites iu Quindan) whi) were asked
to assist a neighbor in sickness. As there were the mother
and two grown daughters, it was supposed one of them
could be secured a few days with the promise of [irovisions
or money; but the mother contemptuously to68e<I her head
to one side and drawled out the reply, '' I reckcm we hain't
come down so low yet as to work." I told them they must
come up high euough to work before I could do any thing
for them, and left them to sit in their own filth and rags.
QUANTKELl/fl RAID. 369
My order from General Curtis was to rei)ort none for
rations who could obtain work for wages. I i)assed on to
other scenes of sorrow too numerous to narrate lierc.
One hundred and four rations I ordered in Wyandotte.
This timely relief given, I crossed the river, and in Kansas
City, Missouri, met brother Copeland and wife, who were
efficient agents and teachers in that field. I secured a pass
to Lawrence, where, late in the evening, I was directed to
a fitmily that had sufiered much in the Union cause. This
was the important stamping ground of Captain John
Brown. This city had passed through two terrible raids
during the war. It is here that Quantrell rushed upon
the unsuspecting citizens witli a host of Confederate soldiers
about daylight, and murdered men at their o^vn doors, and
when they could not call them out they rushed into their
houses and made terrible havoc of human life. There was
a woman here who was a spy. She had been in the city
a few weeks taking horse-back rides two hours each morn-
ing,' ostensibly for her health, but probably to report the
most fiivorable time for attack. She was never seen after
the nud. I attended the Methodist Episcopal Church,
where seventy wounded, dying, and dead soldiers and
citizens were brought in after tliat raid. The stfuns of
blood were still left on the floor and some of the seats.
The house where I was kindly invited to make my
home was entered, and the owner, brother Hockins, was
demanded. His wife told them she saw him run up the
hill a few moments before, which was true ; but on seeing
the Confederate soldiers entering the town he hastened
back to his house and ran down to the cellar. A squad
of them entered and placed tlie bayonet at his wife, and
threatened her life if she did not tell the whercalK)uts of
her husband; but she persisted in j)ointing up the liilL
They went down the cellar, but returned witltout findin;^
him, and set the house ou fire. Then they ran up the hill
after him. She succeeded in putting out tlie fire, and wont
370 A woman's life-work.
into the cellar and culled her husband. He answered from
between the eartli and the floor. This was his hiding-place
until the Union soldiers rescued the city from further
trouble. A strong Union force was now kept at this point.
I found fewer suflering for want of rations at this town
tliau in other places I had visited, and took the stage for
Fort Scott We were advised to keep out of sight any
appearance of watches or any sort of jewelry, as guerrillas
were sometimes lurking in the woods and attacked the
stages. AVe came in sight of Indians on horses who darted
into the woods, fearing we were guerrillas, who Imd stolen
or robbed them of their ponies. One man shouted, **We
are all for the Unitm." This was on Price's track, where
they lost their horses, and did not dare come in sight
Late at night we reached Fort Scott My first call was
on Colonel Blair, commander of the post, who, with his wife,
kindly offered me a home with them while I remained at
that point They introduced me to Dr. Slocum, who gave
a sketch of the terrible destitution of the forty thousand
refugees and freedmen, who passed through this great
thoroughfere. Many of them had stopped here. He took
me to a number of the destitute families, and gave direc-
tions to others, and left me to my work. Here was a great
number of the poor whites, called "Clay-eaters," who
complained about government dealing rations to colored
people. I heard one of them say that "if niggers would
stay where they belonged, with their masters, they would
have more white-bread and beef." I told them, I had
learned that many of their husbands were fighting against
the government while the husbands of many of the col-
ored women were fighting to sustain it, and I should fiivor
those who were on the side of the government I asked
them why they did not themselves remain in their old
homes? "We came 'case our men was conscripted," they
said. One woman and her daughter of eighteen had each
a filthy, raggecl bedquilt over her shoulders, and their fiices
"POOn WHITE TRABH." 371
>vcrc so swarthy that their eyes and teeth presented as
great a contrast as those whose natural skin was of darker
hue. As the little boy of four years had no shoes, and I
had a pair left that would fit him/ 1 told the mother to
wash his feet and try them. ''Sal, bring me that cup
thar," said the woman. Their drinking cup with water
was brought. "Han' me that rag thar," and she wet her
hand and wet the feet, and was wiping off the mud, when
I told her they were not washed; to look at the mud on
the bottou of his feet and between his toes. " 0, yez 'm,"
she drawled out, and wet one end of the rag in the cup,
and made a second effort. When the shoes were put on,
he could not walk without holding to his mother or aster.
They were probably the first he had ever had.
Most of the day was spent in visiting this class of per-
sons— the most ignorant, listless, and degraded of any peo-
ple I had ever met. On giving a description of the igno-
rance and filth of the poor whites I called on. Colonel
ISair inquired "What would you do with them?"
"I would keep body and soul together till Spring opens,"
I answered, "and then load up your great army wagons,
and take them out upon the rich prairies and dump them
out, giving them the homely adage, 'Boot, pig, or die.*"
The greatest difficulty in managing this class was to get
them to do any thing. Not so with colored people ; they
would do any thing they could find to do.
I found in this camp of two thousand, a colored woman
of an earnest Christian principle. Colonel Blair gave her
an excellent character. He said that I might place implicit
confidence in any statement she would make. Her history
was a novel one. She ran away from a cruel master to
the Indians, and married an old Indian, and had four chil-
dren. She said her husband came in great excitement and
asked her if she wanted to run away to the Yankees? She
said no, because she thought they were another tribe of
Indians. He ran out, and soon came back, and said, "If
372 A woman's life-work.
you run, gq quick. I am old; they can 't roD nie of many
days, but they sha' n*t have the children to punish." He
threw them on a horse and ran off into the woods. She
supposed her old master had found her out, and ran an-
other way. Then she heard that her husband was dead.
But the Lord hid her from the cruel master, though he
broke up her family.
After spending three days in this place, including Sun-
day, I took the Monday morning stage for Leavenworth.
In sending jmckages to all these places, to reliable friends
with whom I had made acquaintance, I requested that no
clothing be given to healthy men and women who refused
to do work when they could get it.
In one of the hospitals at Leavenworth were two Con-
federates, one of whom had recently become a Christian.
He said when he went into this army he knew not for
what they were fighting, but when he learned the real
cause, he was for the Union, and should do all be could
for it.
During the month of December, wc relieved four hun-
dred and forty-four fiimilies. There were thirty children
in both buildings under my care.
By request of J. R. Brown, the Preedmen's Aid Com-
mission of Michigan consented to allow me to take charge
of white refugees in connection with the freedmen. Gen-
eral Curtis detailed a sergeant fur my assistant Another
important helper was a noble young woman, Amanda A.
Way, who opened a school for children of inmates of the
two buildings. I found it difficult to bring into school the
white children, and only by a requisition could I accom-
plish it, or induce the mothers to wash the hands and faces,
and comb the hair of their- children, to fit them for school.
This, like all previous fields of army mission work, wa3
a laborious one. Our Sundays were spent in teaching a
large class in three Sabbath-schools, ))esides attending the
public services and generally taking |)art in them. At the
4
SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTED. 373
clofie of one of the meetings, a deacon and his wife rushed
through the crowd to nie, and gave such an exhibition of
joy that it drew the attention of the congregation. He
gave a glowing account of my visit to Little Bock, Arkan-
sas, and of my life-long work for their down-trodden peo-
ple. The hand-shaking for half an hour made my hands
lame for three days. The deacon bought himself when a
young man, and acquired a property worth four thousand
dollars. Slave-holders often said that he knew too much,
and thought he was a damage to their slaves. If they
lost any, they charged him with aiding them away. He
was often lodged in jail and fines imposed upon him. At
length he sold his property at half its value to come to
Kansas, where he could breathe freely.
On New Year's day I found a poor woman in the last
stages of consumption. She could not speak a loud word.
I hired another poor woman to care for her, by giving bed
and wearing clothes for herself and children. I left^ them
in tears, saying, " We thank you, honey, and praise God.
When my poor mother died in that old out-cellar, neither
fitther nor one of us was permitted to give her a cup of
cold water, but the last words she was heard to say was,
•I'm going home to die no more.'**
I visited ten families and sent four boxes more of sup-
plies to Fort Scott. The next day I took a barrel of hos-
pital supplies to Fort Leavenworth.
My supplies were now low, and the money nearly spent.
I received a letter from the chairman of the committee
having charge of preparations for the Ladies' State Frced-
men's Fair, to be held in Detroit, soliciting relics of the
war. J. R Brcwn proposed that I should attend the fair
and take his brother's sharpshooter, that the captain car-
ried through the border-ruffian conflict in Kansas, and
during his movement at Harper's Ferry. After a few days'
reflection I reached the conclusion to go. General Curtis
gave me a pass to Detroit and return*
374 A woman's life-work.
The John Brown gun created much interest Besides
this relic, the fifty pounds of slave-irons, which we picked
up on deserted plantations in the far South, were exhibited
in this &ir. A petition from Lenawee County was sent to
tlie committee having charge of the fair, to place the
avails of our county, one thousand dollars, in my hands
for distribution. This money relieved much sufiering, and
no doubt saved many lives.
' During my visit home I sold Raisin Institute and ten
acres of land, with an excellent orchard, to the State
Freedmen's Aid Commission for an orphans' home. I do-
nated three hundred dollars of the purchase money to this
enterprise, stipulating that the premises were to be used
for no other purpose. In my absence the friends gave
the asylum the name of ''Haviiand Home for Homeless
and Destitute Children." This home I intended as a nu-
cleus for a State Orphan Asylum, as the war had increased
the necessity for such an institution.
After two weeks' absence I returned with supplies.
Spring was lessening the suffering, yet sickness from long ex-
posures still prevailed. Miss Fidelia Phillips, a teacher,
came with a letter from the Michigan Freedmen's Aid
Commission, for us to locate and secure board, which duty
fell upon me. I hired a conveyance and took her to Oska-
loosa, Jefferson County, and found board for her in the
kind family of Dr. J. Nelson, who proposed to assist the
colored people in securing a house for the school at once.
I found here a poor sick woman with her five children,
who was ordered out of her cabin, as she could no longer
pay the rent. Dr. Nelson promised to see that she was
not disturbed until she was able to be moved, when he
would take the family to Leavenworth to go with me to
our Home for Homeless Children in Michigan. Her hus-
band was in the army, and she had not heai*d from him
since he enlisted. On my return to Leavenworth I re-
ceived an order from oitr Freedmen's Aid Commission, to
THE BBFUGEE BUILDINGS. 375
send twenty-five children with five mothers to assist in car-
ing for them. I accomjianied them as far as Quincy, Illi-
nois, with Mrs. Lee and a teacher who had been in the
work a few months. They pursued their journey, and I
went back
On April 15th the sad news reached us of the assas-
sination of President Lincoln! A nation in mourning!
Every house of any note or size was draped with black.
We were now preparing to close the two refugee build-
ings before leaving for Michigan. I ofiered the women the
best dresses for finding their own places for work, and by
this means many found places, if only to work for their
board till they could do better. A good old woman we
called Aunt Phoebe came to us with her four grandchil-
dren, and begged to go to Michigan with me. She said
the father of the children ran away to enlist in the army,
and his master followed him. After an absence of three
days, he returned with the report that he had got sight at
liim, and ordered him to come to him, but he refused, and
he shot him dead. At this report his wife (the daughter
of Aunt Phoelxi), gave a scream and fainted. Both mas-
ter and mistress were very severe, and whipped her severely
for making so much fuss, as they called her grief. Slie
sank under their severity, and died, leaving her infant, a
week old, with her mother. Within a few days the oldest
boy was taken with small-pox, but as he was not very near
the other sick children. Dr. Cari)entcr thought the others
would escape. I rolled him in a couple of quilts and sent
him to the pest-house. Aunt Pha5l)e wept bitterly, as she
said she should probably never see Jerr}' again, and he
was such a good boy to help her take care of the other
.children. A few days later she was taken with a low type
of lung fever. I had one of the colored women in the
place nurse her.
The white refugee women took but little notice of my
offer of best dresses, in finding Jiomcs for themselves.
376 A woman's mfe-work.
found these women of the lowest class of humanity. I
called on General Curtis, and told him I had expended
my fund of lecturing material upon these white women in
the refugee building, and now I had come to report to him
as I had of late threatened them, that, while I was willing
to do to the extent of my ability in relieving and improv-
ing the most degimled, I could not consent to keep under
my charge a house of ill-fame. ** I will give you a good
honest guard day and night over that building," said the
noble general. This did more than all things else to scat-
ter them. They swore they would not be tyrannized over
by that Yankee woman any longer, and left, very much
to my relief.
Within four weeks our little small-pox boy was returaed,
but not as safe as the surgeon re}X)rtcd. I took him into
the wash-room and gave him a thorough cleansing, before
taking him to see his grandmother, who wept for joy.
I spent a few days in revisiting Quindaro, Lawrence,
Wyandotte, and Kansas City. I found seven homeless
children, and a mother of three of them who "wished to
go with me to Michigan. Dtiring the day and night I
wiis in Kansas City I was tiikcn with a severe attack of
pneumonia. I called on an army surgeon for mustard, of
which I placed a plaster over the scat of the pain, that had
become so severe as to cut every breath. I could neithia*Jie
down nor sit still, but walked the room. Placing the chil-
dren in charge of tlie mother, I telegraphed my sergeant
to meet me at the boat with a hack. I took the boat for
Leavenworth, where the carriage met me, and I was taken
to our home, with a high fever, but the pain not quite so
severe, as the mustard was serving its purpose. Dr. Car-
penter said I could not go to Jlichigan under a month.
Although my side remained very sore, yet I managed to
sell the furniture. I took a hack to General Curtis's office,
and managed to secure transportation for seventy-five, my-
self and Mrs. Ijcc included. There were three sick chil-
ORPHAN CUILDBEN. 877
dreu, and I very much doubted the propriety of removing
them. Dr. Carpenter said they would be more likely to
live than if taken to the hospital, as I pro|K)6eil.
We left the city May 2dtli, with a cloud resting over
the nation. My health was still poor, and we had three
sick children, whose mother was with them; three other
children began to complain of chills and fever soon after
leaving. These cases soon developed in measles, but my
haste to reach home urged me to proceed against my better
judgment While it looked like presumption in others, I
felt safe, as prayer for guidance was my daily bread; — ^s
While waiting at St. Joseph, Missouri, for the train, I ob-
tained rations for the company. Susan B. Anthony had
provided a lunch-basket, well filled, for Mrs. Lee and my-
self, to serve for the entire journey.
AVliile we were handing around rations, various remarks
were made as to what I was going to do with all this com-
pany. Said one, '' I reckon she's got a big plantation to
stock with a picked set of young niggers, she 's going to
train to her own liking." Said another, '* I am going to
ask where she is going with them." At lengUi one ven-
tured, "Will you please excuse me, mndam, if I ask you
where you are taking all this company?"
"Certainly," was my answer; ** I am glad to inform
you. I am taking these orphan children, who have been
2)icked up on the streets, and out of frecdmeu's homes, to
nn orphan school in Michigan. By order of the State
Frcedmen's Aid Commission, they will be sent to school
until good homes can be secured for them, where they will
be taught habits of industry, as well as to improve their
intellects. We of the North think they can learn, if an
opportunity is provided."
At this he was much pleased, and, as it was communi-
cated to other bystanders, a number came to congratulate
me in my g<H>d work. One, who had a large number of
slaves, said he wished they were with me, "as it would b
32
378 A woman's life-work.
a right smart of a while before it 11 be settled here to have
schools for 'em."
All stood ready to put the sick ones on the train. Mrs.
Lee took care of the sick during the night, and I had
them in charge during the day.
Aflx^r our arrival at Quincy, Illinois, and our transpor-
tation papers were filled out for Chicago, with a little diffi-
culty I secured the largest coach for the seventy-five pas-
sengers. By 9 P. M. all were in their beds. A few men
were disj)osed to trouble us, because we did not allow them
to enter. I called for the night policeman, and told him
of four drunken men who were disposed to give us trouble,
and as the train was not going out until eleven o'clock I
appealed to him for aid. He assured me we should not
receive further annoyance from them. We arrived in
Chicago thirty minutes l)efore the Michigan train left for
Adrian. I bought tickets for four omnibus loads, but the
drivers were determined to crowd them all into two. Aa
they were putting little folks from four to eight years old
on the tojw I ordered them down. "We are capable of
taking care of these children, madam," said they; "you
take that one."
"So am I callable of taking care of them," I replied,
"and of you too; I paid for four omnibuses and must
have them." They had their own sjwrt over their counter-
manded orders.
We arrived at Adrian June 1st, and met the superin-
tendent of the "Haviland Home" with teams for the
women and children. Here my heavy burden fell off, and
I dropped into the home of my children to get the rest
which I so much needed.
A few week's rest restored my health. Meanwhile I
visited our State Prison, and one of the convicts, Thomas
Lean, requested an interview with me, which was granted
by the officer. He appealed to me to sid him in securing
his pardon, as he had served seven years of his term of
PETITION FOR PARDON. 379
fifteen. He pleaded as earnestly in behalf of his wife and
two little children as for himself. I told him I would do
what I could, but as efforts had been made twice before, I
thought success quite doubtful. I drafted a petition, and
secured a letter of recommendation from Governor Blair,
and a strong letter from Judge Ross Wilkins, who gave
the sentence, and from the prosecuting attorney who acted
in behalf of the United States in his case, and also secured
fifty other names to the j)etition. With six hundi*ed dol-
lars placed in my hands by Mrs. Campbell and Mrs, Pap-
pineau, committee who had charge of the funds of the
Freedmen's Fair, I lefl for Washington, D. C, August 3d.
At Pittsburg I spent one night, and on the following day
visited the State Prison at Allegheny City.
The next morning I took the early train for Baltimore,
and from thence to Annapolis, to learn the resiilt of Eliza-
beth L. Comstock's petition in behalf of fifteen convicts in
the Maryland Penitentiary for aiding slaves to escape from
bondage. I found ten of those men had been pardoned,
but as four of them had used weapons in defending them-
selves, and one had taken a span of horses which the
friends engaged in their behalf deemed theft, they were
retained in prison. I found another on the governor's
record for the same ofiense. I took the names of the six
on my list, as the governor thought they were as worthy
of release as the others, since the weapons were designed
for self-defense, and the horses were only used to take them
to the river, and were left to return to their owners. I
saw the names of the friends who co-o|)erated with £. L.
Comstock on the petition, and called on James Bains, who
introduced me to Judge Bond. The judge said he thought
I was correct in my views as to the worthiness of the six
men presented for his recommendation to the governor for
clemency, and that he would attend to it soon. Said the
Friend: ** If thou feeVst easy to petition for their pardon I
think thou hadst better remain with us until it is accom-
380 A avoman's life-work.
plished, as they have suph au amouut of business on Iiand
at this time."
The judge seemed to think himself distrusted, and said:
''Mrs. Haviland, I will attend to this within a week.**
With this assurance I told the judge and tlie Friend
that I should feel easy to pursue my journey the first of
the week.
From this office I was accompanied to the penitentiary
and introduced to the warden, who sent a guide to conduct
me through the shops and granted me the privilege of
addressing the sixty-eight female convicts. A large major-
ity of them were colored, placed there by their former
owners for trivial oifenses, the real cause being that of
leaving them, but ostensibly for stealing a dress, a pair of
shoes, or a doUar or two, etc. One smart-looking octoroon
girl of eighteen years was about to be whipped by her
mistress, but she had heard of the proclamation of eman-
cipation and concluded that she had been whipped long
enough, and snatched the cowhide from the mistress and
whipped her. For this she was arrested, had a sham trial,
and a sentence of nine years' imprisonment in the peniten-
tiary. One man told me that the mistress reported that
the girl half killed her, but he saw her riding out within
four days ailer the whipping, and she looked as well as
usual. I visited a very sick white Avoman in her cell, to
whom I read a portion of Scripture, and at her request led
in pmyer. She said she was going to meet her Judge, in
whom she trusted. Jesus hears the cry of a repentant
sinner, and she was confident.
The following day was the Sabbath, and I accompanied
my friend to the penitentiary, where he opened the Sab-
bath-school and invited me to teach a class of thirty men.
There were nearly five hundred inmates in prison. As we
were leaving the yard a request from the warden reached
me to conduct tlie funeral service of the woman I had
visited. She died within a few hours after T Icfl. Three
X
PRISONER PARDONED. 381
o'clock p. M. was the hour appointed. I met them in
their chapel, that was well filled, some ladies of the city
being present Many of the convicts were much affected.
They also manifested great interest at the meeting on the
previous day.
On the following day I arrived at Washington. I
found the White House perfectly besieged with pardon-
seekers from ex-slave States. I called on a number of the
officials, who said that the severity of Thomas Lean's sen-
tence made the case look dark. I told them of one who
had robbed the mail of five thousand dollars and was par-
doned in three years, whose term was ten years. But he
had wealthy and influential friends to intercede for him,
while this man robbed the mail of forty-two dollars and
had served over seven years of the fifteen, and was poor.
Besides, his wife was in poor health, and was supporting
herself and two small children. I was advised to take the
letters, with petition, to Postmaster -general Dennison,
from whom I secured a recommendation for his pardon.
From thence I went to the capitol and secured the names
of Hon. F. C. Beaman, Member of Congress, Senator Z.
Chandler, and all other Michigan members of both Houses
to my petition; and through Mr. Wade, the President's
house-keeper, I secured an audience with the President,
who took my letters with the petition and said he would
refer them to the Attorney-general, and do what seemed
best in the case. I then left him with his room crowded
with Southern pardon-seekers.
While in the Postmaster-general's office the chief clerk
said, "Come into this office at nine A. M., next Wednes-
day, as I think that will be his pardoning day, and you
will learn the result" I waited until eleven A. M., fearing
for the worst As I opened the office-door the clei^ threw
up both hands, crying, '* Your man is pardoned! your man
is pardoned I Come and see the notice in this niorniug's
paiier." A hearty hand shaking followed the g^nxl iu»w
/
382 A woman's life-work.
I told him I did not know that he had taken such an inter-
est in my cause. He replied, ** I have had an interest in
this case from the first time you came into this office." A
few days after I received a note from the pardoned man
conveying his tearful thanks. Here was another burden
laid aside, for which grateful thanks were tendered to the
Healer of broken hearts.
I received a permit from Secretary Stanton to trade at
the government store, where new goods were being sold at
auction rates. For five hundred dollars I purchased two
thousand dollars' worth of supplies to disburse among the
sick, crippled, and aged, both colored and white. There
were many in Washington and Georgetown relieved from
great suffering. I learned of much suffering at Harper's
Ferry, and took four hundred dollars' worth to that point.
On my way I called at the Baltimore penitentiary. As
I entered the warden's office he informed me that our men
had been released ten days before, except one, who was
going out within a week. Another burden left me. These
men were making efforts to free their families by flight,
and were caught and received long sentences, according to
the number in their families. Three men of the six had
bought themselves, and in their efforts to free their &mi-
lies received from ten to thirty years' sentence, although
two of these families were recovered by their owners.
They all looked like intelligent men. I took an early
train for Harper's Ferry. In the seat opposite sat a Pres-
byterian D. D., with his body-servant, who was very at-
tentive in bringing him his coffee, books, or roll of manu-
script **How far are you going on this road, madam?"
inquired our dignitary.
On informing him he inquired, ** Have you friends there?"
"I have," I said, **but I never saw them. They are
the poorest of the poor, the sick, lame, and blind,, of all
classes, black, white, red, or yellow. I draw no lines of
^emarkation."
A ftOlTHERN ri.EROYMAN. 383
'* Woll, madam, that is a noble work, and God will
bless yoii in it. I. am now on my way to Vicksburg. I
preached in that city a number of years. I own a planta-
tion near that city, and had forty slaves. A little before
Vicksburg fell I moved with them to Richmond, Virginia,
and when that city fell I set them free, and they are now
as free as myself. Madam, I will tell you what your duty
is. It is to go to New York, Philadelphia, and Boston,
and gather up fifty thousand dollars, and follow Sherman's
track through to the Gulf. You will find plenty of suf-
fering to rebeve among both white and black; and you
can do it Those cities I have named are wealthy. I have
been there myself I spent a few months in New York,
and I know you can gather up that amount easy, and it 's
your duty, madam ; and God will bless you in it."
The consequential air he assumed would give one an
impression that he, at least, considered himself inspired
with power from on high. He did not feel quite satisfied
without repeating his command on our arrival at Harper's
Ferry: "Do as I have told you, madam, and Grod will
bless you ; good by."
I found my goods had just arrived, and the commander
of the post kindly ofiered to store the bales of supplies and
furnish an ambulance and driver whenever I desired. My
first inquiry was for a boarding place, as the house where
the colonel was boarding was full. Mrs. Johnson was
about opening a boarding-house, and I called on her for a
few days' board.
"Where are you from?"
"From Washington," was my reply, "with supplies for
the poor freedmen and whites who are in a sufiering con-
dition."
"Oh, you are a Bureau woman then. We don't have
nothin' to do with Bureau folks. I can 't board you."
After being directed to two others, who made like in-
quiries, and received like replies, I found I was going to have
(
384 A woman's life-wobk.
an all-day job on hand in feeling the public pulse at Har-
1)61^8 Ferry. After making eight calls, phatting a while at
each place pleasantly, for I would talk in no other way,
' although I was told in nearly every place that no one in
that town would disgrace himself by walking on the streets
with a nigger teacher, or speaking to one, on my way tc>
report my unsuccessful day's work to the colonel, it being
afler sunset, I found an army surgeon sitting on his front
porch.
'* Have you found no place for dinner?^ he asked.
"O no," I said, "I have been amusing myself over
Confederate fever that I find runs too high for health iu
your town,"
**My mother-in-law is away," he answered, "but my
wife and I will give you our room to-night, and we will see
that you have supper at once."
At Mrs. Bilson's (the mother-in-law) I remained during
the week.
At the close of the week I attended a quarterly-meet-
ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. When the min-
ister invited all who loved the Lord Jesus to testify, I,
with others, accepted and took part At the close he came
and inquired who I was. I introduced myself as usual.
Afler reading my papers from the Governor, Members of
Congress, and a few ministers of Michigan, I received a
number of invitations to their houses, which gave me an
opportunity to relate my first day's experience in their
town. They made a number of excuses. Among them
was the fact that Miss Mann (Horace Mann's sister), kept
herself exclusively with the colored people. She not only
taught their school, but boarded with them, and made
no calls on white people. They acknowledged that those
upon whom I had called were not in S3rmpathy with the
Union.
Here, as in other places, were those in extreme suffer-
ing, both white and colored. One blln.l man, and an old
MISSION SCHOOL. 385
white man dnd his wife, were too aick to take care of each
other. One sick woman, whose husband was in the army,
had no fire, only as the little girl of three years old gath-
ered old boots and shoes around an old camp with which
to build it. All of these cases were relieved.
One day it rained too hard to be out. A little girl
brought an umbrella with a request from her folks for
me to call on them. I went and met about a dozen men
and women, who wished to consult with me. The troops
were liable to be withdrawn. If so, their lives would not
be safe an hour. A few nights before a mob broke their
windows and rushed into their grocery and took sacks of
flour and meal, pies, cakes, and crackers, and strewed them
over the street, in front of their grocery, and broke up
their chairs and tables, and swore that no nigger should
have a business place on Main Street They threw stones
and brickbats into their living rooms, and the men, women,
and children ran to the soldiers for protection, with bleed-
ing bruises that were bound up at the time of my call.
A sad picture they presented with their broken furniture
and injured bodies.
''What use is there in gathering more? Can you tell
us what to do? You see our lives are in danger as it is.
If the troops shall be withdrawn, what shall we do?"
There was a Free-will Baptist just arrived, who pro^
posed opening a mission school in that town, and had just
sent word that he wanted to meet them at their prayer-
meeting. Of thb I, as well as they, was glad to hear. I met
with them, and was pleased with the Christian spirit of this
brother, and the prospect of his school among them seemed
like a silver lining in their dark cloud. We learned of
his success in opening and continuing that school, which a
few years after assumed the character of an academy.
The following day I took the train for Washington, and
was accompanied to the depot by a number of the citizens,
who manifested very kindly feelings. I was told by some
33
386 A woman's i.ife-work.
to be sure to dill on them if I ever visited their town
again, and they would see that a week's or a month's board
should cost me nothing. One man and his wife pointed
to their brick house, to which I could come, and be more
than welcome. I left them, and soon met kindred spirits
in Washington.
COLORED SCHOOI^. 387
Chapter XIV.
HOME MISSION WORE.
Thebe were manj sick, crippled, aged, and blind suf-
ferers in Washington to visit and relieve, but the severest
trial I endured was encountering the virus of disloyalty
wherever I went Women were more outspoken than
men, because they could dare be. Men were more subtle
and appeared more pliant, only to hoodwink government
They said in secret, "Well yet gain by the baUoi, with
the help of Northern sympathizers, what we &iled to ac-
complish with the bullet "^ By order of President Johnson
the colored soldiers were every where discharged and
withdrawn from forts and garrisons, at the request of their
former masters, only to be left to their unrelenting hate.
One colored man returned to the plantation of his wife's
master, and asked him if he could take his wife and chil-
dren to himself, as he had means, after two years of serv-
ice to support them. The only answer he received was
the contents of a pistol, that took his life instantly I I
heard of similar murders in this vicinity, of which no
notice was taken by the State authorities.
I visited a number of large schools in Alexandria, Sep-
tember 14th, and was invited to address them. Two of
these were kept in two of the largest slave-pens in the
city. Alexandria was one of the greatest slave marts in
Virginia. In the A very slave-pen there was a dungeon-like
room, designed for one standing, with iron staples to which
the ^vrists were locked, and a sort of stocks for the feet, when
a stream of cold water was pumped over the nude form
of the refractory slave, from ten minutes to an hour or
more, according to the offense. They told me they had
388 A woman's j^ife-work.
known them taken down chilled to death. It was said to
be one of the most cruel punishments. Thej showed me
the stump of the whipping post, where hundreds of writh-
ing victims had suffered this kind of torture. But it did
seem as if the better day was coming, to see a hundred
and fifty-three black children here so eager to learn, and
to hear them read so well after only four mouths' schooling.
I met a woman on the street in deep mourning who
was weeping. I inquired the cause of her grief She said :
''I have been to visit the grave of my only son. His
father died a few months ago, and this darling son was
my only child. He died in the Union army ; but what
does all this terrible sacrifice amount to ? President John-
son is giving strength to the rebels. Every rebel general
has been pardoned, and the vast amount of land restored
to them is increasing their power. You see, wherever
troops are withdrawn they commit murders, and no notice
is taken of it. I feel as though my son's life and thou-
sands of other precious lives have been sacrificed for noth-
ing." I could say but little to comfort that poor, broken-
hearted, widowed, childless mother. I could only commend
her to our Heavenly Father, who alone can console the
widow's aching heart.
On September 15th I took a steamer for lUchmond,
Virginia, and arrived on the 16th at Fredericksburg.
Here were standing many chimneys, showing us the waste
places and burned houses in this small but quaint old city.
I called at the teachers' boarding-house, kept by a good
Union fiimily, Wm. J. Jeffries. Mrs. King accompanied
me to the soldiers' hospital. Here, as elsewhere, the poor
suffering soldier seemed rejoiced to see and hear the repre-
sentative of their mothers. After reading the Scripture
and prayer I left a number in tears.
Here was the home of General "Washington's mother.
I visited the house, and a feeling of solemnity came over
me as we passed through her sitting room into the large
SCHOOL FOR WHITE CHILDREN. 389
bed-room, where report said she died. Near by is her
tomb. The pedestal only stands erect, but badly marred
by the chisel in chipping off pieces, by hundreds of visitors.
Our teachers inquired if I would not like a chip from the
tomb. I told them that no chisel or hammer should be
applied for me ; but I picked up a little piece at its base.
We had gone but few rods before a carriage drove to the
tomb, and the chisel and hammer were flaking off keep-
sakes for four men. The long block of marble designed
to have been placed on the pedestal lay near it half buried
in the ground where it had lain nearly or quite a century.
After inspecting the rebel earth-works and rifle-pits, I
visited Miss Strausburg's school of 181 poor white chil-
dren, quite unlike any colored school I had visited any
where, as to order. They commenced to sneer at me the
moment I entered, but their teacher invited me to speak to
the school, and they became at once quiet and respectful.
Little James Stone asked permission to sing for me, and
he sang a religious hymn in which nearly all the school
joined. To my surprise they sang the "Red, White and
Blue" and "The Soldier's Farewell to his Mother," for
which I thanked them. In passing along the street after
the school was dismissed, many of the children came out
with their mothers, pointing toward me. At two places I
halted to speak to them and their mothers, which pleased
them very much.
The next day I visited a few Union families, who gave
some interesting facts concerning their trials. I lefl two
doUaiB with one sick woman, who wept as I left her.
I called at Major Johnson's headq-uarters. He was very
anxious to send on an orphan baby one year old to Camp
Lee orphanage, in Bichmond. He gave me a paper that
would secure its admission. On arriving at Richmond I
lefl my charge at the orphanage. As no name was on
the paper, or was given to me ^vith the child, the matron,
Mrs. Gibbons, named him Haviland Gibbons.
390 A woman's life-work.
I visited the orphanage a number of times. The matron
said the little fellow learned his name very readily. Here
was a pair of twin boys, about two years old, very black
and smart. As they quarreled so much of the time, Judge
Fitzhugh proposed to name them Abe and Jeff, after the
two Presidents. Though a strong Confederate, he said
they were smarter than any white children he ever saw,
and to prove his position he called them out to dance, as
he had taught them to step the figure. He sang for them,
and they danced to his music.
"There, 1*11 venture to say," he said, ** you never saw
two white children of their age do that. I tell you the
negro race is naturally smarter than the Anglo-saxon."
I told him I was surprised at this remark, when he
had told me a few- minutes before that the negroes would
soon die out, because they could not take care of them-
selves.
"That is true," he rejoined, "and I have written a
book in which I take the same position, and can prove it.
They will do more* work than white people can, but they
lack calculation; hence the necessity of their being under
the supervision of the whites. We have the planning &c-
ulty, and they have the ability to do the work. There is
therefore a necessity for both races to work together to be
a successful people. I repeat what I told you before, that
we never shall prosper separated. The power of governing
must remain with the Anglo-Saxon race, and God has so
designed. The Yankees have made a sad mistake in flee-
ing the slave, for in time they will become extinct; but
God will never suffer this state of things to remain, and
you will see the South in power in two years, and the
North minus the power she now wields.
I cited him to black men in Canada, who had escaped
from slavery and who had acquired wealth, and to one of
the wealthiest livery men in their own city. I also re>
ferred to a shoemaker who had been free but a few months.
" SOCIOLOGY.'* 391
His cfedit ^vas sufficieDt to purchase ten dollars' worth of
stock, which he made up and sold, paying for his stock;
he then made another purchase and was hard at work to
purchase a little home. His wife was washing and house-
cleaning, with the same object in view. They told me
they allowed themselves meat but once a week, and lived
on corn-bread, mush, and molasses, and that they intended
to live and work in this way until they should succeed.
''Does not this look like calculation?" I asked.
"I admit," he said, ''there are isolated cases, but it is
not the rule."
He gave me his book to read, entitled "Sociology of
the South, by J. Fitzhugh, Att'y." I found it a perfect
bundle of inconsistencies. He goes into a labored argu-
ment against free-labor, freenschools, free-press and free-
speech, as destructive to a prosperous people. He claimed
to be a cousin of Gerrit Smith's wife, and said that they
were crazy over slavery. He also claimed that President
Johnson was doing all he could for them, and that through
him they were going to have their rights restored. He
knew of men who had gathered half a bushel of Confederate
money, and stud they should keep it until it would be worth
as much as greenbacks. He also knew men who had bills
of sale of negroes, a foot deep, that they were keeping
to recover their slaves, or jpay for them; and he was confi-
dent that it would be accomplished within two years. This
I found to be a very general feeling among the most prom*
ineat Confederates.
On September 20th I visited a number of sick that I
supplied with bedding and clothing. I walked six miles
that day, and then went to the office of the Freedmen's
Bureau, where I was furnished with an ambulance and
driver to take things to the suflferers I had visited^
After spending several days in this work, visiting
schools and giving attention to many sufferers, I returned,
weary in body but restful in mind, and thankful that the
392 A woman's ijfe-work.
frieuds of humanity had made me the almoner of their
gifts.
On October 2d I spent some time in Libby Prison.
My sanitary goods were stored in one apartment of it. The
prisoners were imder guards, and were permitted to assist
me in opening, closing, and moving barrels and boxes, a
portion of which I prepared to take to Ashland. One of
the keepers took me to the long, deep tunnel which the
Union prisoners had dug under the building to escape from
their terrible sufferings. To look at the great risk they
were running in their fruitless effort to escape, speaks
loudly of the desperation to which they were driven. My
guide gave me a few of the hand-cuffi that our officers
removed from some of the emaciated prisoners when Blch*
mond was taken. The doors of Castle Thunder and Libby
were opened, and the hand-cuffi were placed on their cruel
keepers, who had made a boast of killing as many
Yankees in these prisons as their troops were killing in
battle.
I went out some distance, October 3d, to an old camp,
where a school was organized in an old slave-pen. Here
was the stump of the whipping-post cut even with the
ground. I was shown where stood the auction-block. As
I listened to a history of cruelties inflicted here I did not
wonder that our nation was compelled to pass through this
baptism of blood. Pointing to a large plantation in sight,
said one: ''There lives my old master, who said in the
beginning of this war, * Before my children shall ever be
disgraced with work I will wade in blood to the horse's
bridle.' He did fight hard as long as the war lasted.
But last week he told his two s5ns that they must go to
work or die. He came into my shoe-shop the other day
with his feet almost bare, and I took the best pair of boots
I had and gave them to him. I know he thought of oki
days, for I did."
After talking to the children at school I visited the
PREED-WOMEN. 393
aged and sick. ' Anthony Wilson, very aged, said, "Dun
kno' how ole I is. White folks say I's more'n eighty. Had
heaps o' ups an' downs; good many more downs dan ups;
my big family all tore to pieces two times." I gave him a
whole suit of clothes. ** Bress de good Lo'd," he exclaimed,
"dis is de best suit I eber had; dis I reckon is my freedom
suit" Mary Brackson, also very old, had two little grand-
children with her. Tlieir mother was sold down the river
when the youngest was a year old. Her life had been a
sad one. She was crippled with rheumatism, and her arm
had been broken by an overseer's club. I gave her a bod-
tick, quilt, blanket, and a few clothes for herself and
grandchildren. Then I visited and relieved four other
families, to whom I gave advice, and with the most I read
and offered prayer, which always seemed to be a great
comfort to them.
Two days after I took a train with supplies for Ash-
land. I arrived in the afternoon and met an excellent
Union family, formerly from England, Judge James, whose
house was battered on each side with bullets and shells in
the severe battle fought at that place. This town, the
home of some strong political men, seemed dilapidated and
forsaken. Judge James's wife and daughter were noble
^ women, and I found a very pleasant home in this family.
They directed me to the most suffering families and indi-
viduals. My first call was on Charlotte Boles, whose
reply to the query for her age was, "1 dun kno*; missus
's|iecks I 's eighty, large odd." 8he had served three gen-
erations.
''I's had so many children," she said, '' I can*t tell till
I call de names: Pomp, Jim, Tom, 8ol, Sue, Dick, an'
Dilcy; den some babies I's got in heaven. I seed heap o'
trouble in my time. I nursed at de breas' eleven of my
ill's' massar's chillen, Isaac Wiston, and six of his gran'-
chilieu. I dress 'em firs', an' some on 'em for de grave. My
seoon' massar, William Wiufield, Jun., da have six chiller
394 A woman's life-work.
an' I dress 'em all firs', and most all at las' for de grave.
O my God, I can neber, neber tell de trouble I 's had. O
how hard I prayed for freedom, an' de Lord come at las*.
I's praise his name. De one dat I uurst when a babie
ordered me whipped 'ease I crieil so much when 'da sole my
ehilleu down de rtber. But I hear dat de war free five of
my chillen, an' I's prayin' God to sen* 'em to poor me.
Notwithstanding her great age her mind was unusually
clear, and the frequent starting tear manifested strong
maternal affection.
There was not a house, yard, or grove but bore the
mark of shell or bullet
An exciting scene passed before us October 15th.
Young Mrs. Pollard, daughter of my host, who had become
the wife of the noted Confederate editor of the most rabid
paper in Richmond, had been forbidden to visit or even to
correspond with her parents. Her husband said if she
should attempt it, it would be at her peril. She found him
to be inconstant, as he had become the paramour of a
Cyprian in New York city, where he s))ent several weeks
writing a book on the bravery of Confederate soldiers.
When she discovered these facts, with her heart full of
grief, she told him the reports she had heard of his incxu-
staiicy. lie acknowledged all, and entreated her pardon.
But he soon 1)ecame as cruel as ever. During his absence
in New Ycrk she took her son of less than two years and
came to her father's house, a poor, heart-broken woman.
A divorce was immediately sued for, and she received a
summons to appear in court in Richmond. Although her
father was there to receive her, she feared Mr. PoUanl
would take her life, also her father's, at their parting.
She threw her arms around her mother's neck and wept
upon her shoulders; then, sobbing, said, as she rested her
head upon ray shoulders:
" Mrs. Haviland, you won't leave me after our arrival
'u Richmond until 1 am with my father, will you?'*
MONRY DEMANDED. 395
With an assurance that I would remain at her side
until her father took her under his protection, she left her
babe with her mother and we departed for Richmond.
We met her father, with whom I felt she would be safe.
I find these extremes of love and hate more prevalent in
the South than in the North.
On the 18th of October, after visiting fifteen sufiering
families, I called at the o£5ce for an ambulance and driver
to go to Libby Prisou for supplies. These were obtaine<l
and distributed, and such gratitude from the recipients I
never found elsewhere. Same of them wept aloud. A
number of the women kissed my hards as I left them,
and the hearty **God bless you, honey," was an every-<lay
blessing from these poor crushed spirits.
One of our officers came to me with the urgent rec]uest
of two women, living in a large Irick hcuse, to see me.
I obeyed the summons at once. As I rang the door-bell,
a genteelly dressed lady in black satin met me at the door.
I inquired if there were two ladies here who had sent for
me? Bhe replied in the affirmative. By this time the
other lady appeared in the hall, also dressed in rich silk.
"What are your greatest needs," I asked, " that will
come within my power to supply?"
"AVe want money, madam," they said, '*and must
have it"
"Are any of your family sick?"
"No, madam, but money we must have."
"Will rations answer your purpose?"
"No, madam, we want no such thing; we want movi^,
and must have it"
I told them I had no money to disburse, and only sup-
plied foc-d and clothing t.) those who were sufiering from
greatest destitution, and left them without being invited
inside their house. I saw at once they were most accus-
tomed to the imperative mood.
The captain came to me a few days after and inquire
3f)G A woman's life- work.
if I foiuul it in the way of my duty to relieve the wants
of those two ladies ? I told him I asked them a few ques-
tions aud did not think it worth the money demanded.
He said they had sent for him, and a number of other
ofRccrs, making the same demand, and as they had not
succeeded they sent for me, and he was not disappointed
at the result.
As I was passing their news depot, I saw blazoned in
red letters, " No New Nation sold here." I stepped in and
inquired for their best paper. The Examiner was handed
me, edited by Pollard, the whilom son-in-law of Judge
James, one of the most rabid Confederate sheets in Bich-
moud. I inquired where the Nnv Nation was sold. They
said nowhere, unless a few ** niggers" might be fcund sell-
ing it on the street. One of them |x>ured forth a long
catalogue of epithets: "Arrant liar," '* reckless villain,"
and finally a "crazy scamp."
As I was passing the street one day, and saw " New
Nation," I thought I would call on the "insane editor,"
Mr. Huunicutt. I ascended to the third story, where I
found the busy editor and his son. They were surprised
to see a lady of sufficient moral courage to call on them.
The editor exhibited a pile of anonymous letters, threaten-
ing his life. He was an outspoken Union man, and had
received over one hundred of these nameless letters within
three months. He was a native of Virginia, and said:
"The Union of the States is a fixed fact, and I will
advocate it squarely, though it cost me my life, but Union
principles must and will prevail."
I left a dollar for a subscription to the New Nation for
six months. As I was about* to leave, said he, with tear-
ful eye:
"A select few in this city meet once a week for a
prayer-meeting, but I can not attend it in the evening, as it
is unsafe for mc to be out after dark."
I told him I had received a secret invitation, and had
CAMP LEE ORPHANAOE. 397
atteoded each meeting since my first knowledge of this
praying band. I told him it was one of the most solemn
meetings I had ever attended. As in the days of the apos-
tles, we met in an upper room at the hour of prayer,
where I had heard the editor of the Neio NcUinn remem-
bered.
''I know,** he said, "that I have friends in this city,
and seme I know are secretly friends for fear of this bitter
spirit that reigns to a fearful extent. Do n't forget to pray
for me and my family. I dare not bring my wife and
daughter to this city."
My wtrk kept me here many days. November 25th I
spent mostly at the sanitary rooms in Libby Prison, with
Miss Morns, a French lady, who served as a spy fc>r the
Union generals. Ileport had it that she was writing a
book of her exploits. A soldier told me he saw her a pris-
oner in Southern hands befcre the fall of New Orleans.
But she managed to make her escape from that city, and
in disguise revisited it, and reported to our generals. She
could speak French and German better than our own lan-
guage. She often disguised herself most effectually. Her
French pohteness would have been quite annoying to me
had it not been for the faithful assistance she rendered in
seekmg out the sick and djring, not hesitating to enter
filthy alleys, dark, cold cellars, or with me to chmb rickety
flights of stairs into dark attics. I have found in almtst
every place one or more Christian women who kindly offtTcd
to assist me, but few would dare visit tnose filthy places,
fearing contagious diseases. Having had the small-ix>x,
and all other common contagious diseases, with my very
plain habits of living, I dared to visit the sick and dying
in any of these loathsome places, many of which I found
in Richmond.
The next day, being Sunday, was spent as usual in
attending Sabbathnschools. I spoke in two of them, and
in one meeting. At night I was at Camp Lee Orpliana^
398 A woman's I.I fk- work.
with Annie Gibbons, the matron, who had an interesting
group of little folks. As they gathered around the table,
at the tap of the bell, with clas])ed hands and closed eyes,
they repeated the verse :
'* Lord, teach a little child to pray,
Thy grace to me impart," eta
I met a colored man from Raleigh, North Carolina,
who gave a few items of Andrew Johnson's early history,
in regard to his apprenticeship in tailoring. If there was
a dance within reach, black or white, it was all the same
to "Andy," — he was sure to be there. His boss, Mr. Sdby,
lectured him about his late hours, and to evade these lec-
tures he often ''turned in" with Handy Luckett, a steady
old slave man, whose bed was in the loft of J. O. Sork*s
carriage house.
At a shoe-shop, I met John Blevins, a noble appearing
John Brown sort of man, whose sentence was forty years
in the Virginia Penitentiary in Richmond. His crime was,
aiding slaves to their God-given rights. He had served
sixteen years when Richmond was taken. The Union sol-
diers opened the prison door, and John Blevins, with four
hundred other prisoners, walked out free men. His in-
telligence speaks of better days. He is sixty years of
age, and hard treatment had added ten years to his ap-
pearance. During the first few years of his prison life ho
could tell when a master had lost his slaves, as they would
then place him in the dungeon, where he was kept for
weeks at a time, to compel him to give the names of other
abolitionists, but they never succeeded. He "was at this
time teaching a colored school. Out of school-hours, he
worked in the shoe-shop, and was tr}ang to make enough
to purchase for himself a suit of clothes, when he designed
returning to his home in Philadelphia. He had just heard
from a family that he assisted to their liberty, some of whom
had become quite wealthy, and were trying to find him.
MARCIA a)LTOX. o99
He had written to them and was expecting to receive
assistance. Whenever he went out on the streets he was
annoyed by half-grown boys hooting after him, *' Old John
Brown, nigger thief." At the time he was arrested, they
took all of his money, amounting to five hundred and fifty-
seven dollars.
I visited a Baptist Sabbath-school where three thousand
members were enrolled. Over one thousand five hundred
were present They were addressed by Professor Johnson,
who introduced and invited me to address the school.
They very cautiously discussed the coming holidays, as
they had never held one there on their own account They
decided to observe Thanksgiving, Christmas, and celebrate
the Proclamation of Freedom on New Year's day. Their
minister advised his people to be very careful in word and
deed, so as not to give the least occasion for misoonstruiug
their motives. Some of the white people said it ought not
to be allowed. They feared an *' uprising," but our soldiers
said they should have the privilege.
I visited Howard Grove Hospital, under the charge of
Miss Marcia Col ton, matron. 8he was a missionary among
the Choctaw Indians nine years, and was a noble, self-
sacrificing woman. The surgeon of the hospital was D. R.
Browery. I fi)und a little boy of about eight years, whose
mother he said was "done dead." He knew nothing of
his fiither. I took him to Camp Lee Orphanage. Here
and there I find kindred spirits, but none more devoted to
the cause of Christ than sister Alarcia Colton. 8he gave
herself entirely to the advancement of his cause during
nine years of labor among the poor, despised Indians.
During the terrible conflicts of the war she unreservedly
gave herself to the sufiering and djring soldier, and she said
that when no longer called for in that field her life was
just as cheerfully given to uplifting the lowly among the
fireed slaves of the South.
On visiting the State Penitentiary, the keeper hesita^
400 A woman's lifb-work.
about allowing me admittance. Said he: *'I am afraid
yyou 11 give a bad report of us, as did Miss Dix, who gave
\ us a bad name, and I thought of her as you entered my
office. You look like her, and I am afraid of you. Yoa
know we don't have our prisons like yours of the North,
like grand palaces, with flower-yards; and I reckon I had
better not let you in." I told him I perceived they were
rebuilding the part burned awhile ago, and would make
due allowance for bad house-keeping.
'' Well, if you'll do that, I reckon I'll have to risk you,
for you '11 see we are whitewashing the old cells and other
parts of the prison, and then you must make allowance
for its age. It was built in 1800, and is the first peniten-
tiary in the world, and you Northerners have had all these
sixty-five yean to improve in, and then your gardens about
your prisons are all so grand that X am a little afraid of
your report But, steward, you may take her through,
and we'll see what she'll do for us."
I discovered a contrast, it is true. But, as in other
])laces in the South, they seem a century behind the times.
I found here, as in our State prisons, a majority of the
convicts were left orphans in childhood. The number of
inmates was at that time two hundred and twenty-four. I
called on the general in command to inquire for Oliver
Williams, whose wife requested me to see if I could find
him. She was in Washington, D. C, and had not heard
from him for a long while. I found he had been sentenced
to three months' imprisonment to hard labor, with ball and
chain, but the time had now expired. The general referred
me to Fortress Monroe, as the military prisoners had been
removed to that prison. He advised me to call on Gover-
nor Pierpont, who gave the same reference, and gave mo
some interesting items concerning thb State. He said
that, but for slavery, Virginia would have been one of the
richest States in the Union in mines. Colored men were
^hen making a dollar a day iu gathering gold dust without
NEW Y£AK CEIiEBRATION. 401
the facilities of enterprising men with capital. There were
also silver, copper, nickel, and a fine quality of kaolin or
porcelain clay. He exhibited a specimen of each metal,
and two bowls made of the native kaolin, a very fine
material. To show the absorbing interest in slave-dealing
he gave the figures of income, as shown during the discus-
sions in their State Convention in 1861. The ifetropoUtan
iVfM reported that ''the income from slaves for the ]a.st
twenty years amounted to twenty millions of dollars annu-
ally, and from all other products eight million dollars
annually.** This Governor Pierpont believed to be a true
estimate.
I called at Barah E. Bmiley's Teachers' Home. Here
I found Rachel Suell, daughter of Richai'd Snell, of Lock-
port, New York, my old childhood home. With this group
of kindred spirits I spent a refreshing season during a
hard nun.
New Year's Day, 1866, was long dreaded by a large
majority of the white citizens of Richmond. Great excite-
ment prevailed over its celebration by the colored people.
Soldiers were seen in every direction. A few companies of
colored men went on the common to organize for the day's
procession. The citizens were excited over that, and said
they were preparing for "insurrection." They had per-
mission from the governor to form in front of the State
House. In the park were rustic seats of ancient style,
chipped off and notched here and there, yet a colored per-
son had never been allowed inside unless as the body
servant of his master. But now their banners of various
devices were floating, interspersed with United States flags.
Each society had its motto, such as, ''Peace, Liberty, and
Freedom with all Mankind;" "Union, Liberty's Protecting
Society," "Peace, Good Will to all Mankind;" "In Union
there is Strength;" "In God we Trust." On a blue satin
banner were initials of a Benevolent Protective Association.
The religious exercises were opened in the morning bj
34
402 A woman's LrPR-WORR.
reading the eighth chapter of Deuierououiy aiul singing an.
appropriate hymn. The text of the niiui»(er'H discourse was
a part of the second verse, *'Aud thou shah reiueiuber all
the way which the Lord thy God led thee forty years in
the wilderness." The minister could read qu'te well, though
his life had been spent in slavery. He presented the past
and present prospects of his people in a clear and affecting
manner, and the necessity of remembering the iMist, to
l)e fully prepared to praise God for the precious boon of
freedom he had bestowed upon their race. There were
four very large congregations opened this morning in a
similar manner, and songs of praise were heard from the
marching multitudes wending their way to the State House
Park. There was shooting from a hotel window. Two of
the suspected men were taken to Libby Prison. With the
soldiers on the alert, and an increased force of policemen,
they had no further trouble.
At the meeting of fifteen thousand or more in the park
good order prevailed. I passed along through the moving
masses, a silent listener to many outburstings of joy, con-
trasting with past sorrows — a great change indeed. Editor
Hunnicutt, of the New Nation^ was called upon to make a
speech, and he exhorted them to cultivate industry, hon-
esty, and virtue. He was followed by a number of others.
At three o'clock the crowds l)egan to disperse, so as to reach
their homes before nightfall. It is passing strange why
the white people here were so much excited over this cele-
bration. There were two coloretl Baptist Churches burned
two nights before, and on the night previous threats were
made that all who took part in the celebration would lose
their places of business.
The Episcopalian rector came after ten P. M. the same
night to advise the two teachers, Mrs. Starky and Miss
Hicks, to continue their school, and persuade the scholars
to remain, and take no part in it themselves whatever, as
the white people sdd this rejoicing was over the fall of
DttAWINO RATIONS. 403
mchmond and the downfall of the (confederacy. This
Idea was dwelt upon to 8uch an extent that the Committee
of Arrangements printeii circulars and scattered through
ti)wn during the week previous, stating their object in full,
" that it was only to celebrate the day that God gave free-
dom to their race, and nothing more.*' But "visurreduniy'^
^^vprising among the negroes," had been household words
since the days of Nat Turner. The rebel flag was carried
past Sarah E. Smiley's Mission Home for Teachers twice
that day. Had the foot been re|X)rted at head-quarters,
the bearers would have found themselves m the military
prison.
As the army was being disbanded, and rations curtaUed,
and the suffering for want of them equaled that for cloth-
ing, I was informed by the general in command that there
were more calls for rations by white than the colored peo-
ple since the fall of Richmond. Said he: ''I will mention
a few to show the importance of investigation. Daniel
Lacy had nine houses and servants and applied for and
drew rations for his whole family. John Kimbo had serv-
ants out at work and drew rations for all his family, and
had a number of houses. Mrs. Mary Ann Moseby had a
grocery store well supplied, and drew rations and sold them.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hunt also kept a full grocery, and drew
rations to sell. Mrs. Sophia Coach, whose husband was a
plasterer, drew rations. Mrs. Miller represented herself as
a widow, and drew rations all the season, but I found out
that she had a husband at home all this time. Mrs. Hous-
ton had a husband, but represented herself a widow, and
drew rations and wood, as did all the others. The whole
of two blocks drew rations, and most of them wood. Jo-
seph Mayo, who is mayor of the city, and was when it fell
into Union hands, drew rations, and owns a number of
houses, and has servants. Ten years ago his slave Marga-
ret's babe died with the croup, and he charged her wif'
chokmg it to death, and had her hung on the scaffold af
404 A woman's i.ifk-work.
beiug whipiieil aliucflt to death. He sent one of bis slave
women to the peuiteutiary six mouths ago, for a trivial
offense. I heard by one of ber friends, that she said it
was a relief, for she was treated better there than at her
master's. Khe is so rejoiced to learn that when she comes
out she will be a free woman, and uever again be com-
pelled to serve that cruel master. But what contrasts we
find here in both races! I have never found as much
lying, misrepresentatiou, and cheating, amoug the negroes
as amoug the white i)eople, in my experience in this four
years of war. Our reconls show more rations, wood, and
coal issued to the whites than to the blacks in the State
of Virginia.'*
I was careful to take down these items, in writing, as
he gave them, in his office. O, what changes, what re-
verses, were here experienced. A. R. Brooks, who bought
himself fourteen years ago, was now a wealthy man, owned
ten horses, and six fine hacks and carriages, and his for-
mer master, by the fell of the Confederate government,
was reduced almost to beggary. A few months ago he
sold his plantation of three thousand acres for Confederate
money, and is now penniless. Last February his wife died,
and his former slave, A. R. Brooks, bore the entire expense
of her burial. He said he praised the Lord for giving
him the ability to do it But how greatly w as that wealthy
planter, Henry A. Winfy, now changed in his prospects,
when, a few months before, he considered himself the
owner of three thousand acres, "well stocked" with slaves
to work it.
With every day come new scenes, and yet such a simi-
larity; investigating, relieving, reading Scriptures, advis-
ing, and often by the cot of the sick and dying. I often
felt myself a stranger in a strange land, and yet I was
never alone. Although boisterous waves dashed around
me, yet the dear Savior was near at hand.
I learned of much suffering on the Peninsula, and de-
LEAVING RICHMOND. 405
cided to take the rest of my supplies down the James
River to Williamsburg. While arranging my packages for
leaving Libby, a multitude of people were thronging the
street near the prison. I inquired for the cause of this
excitement, and was informed that a Union soldier was
about to be executed for murdering a man for his money,
horse, and buggy. As he was led out of prison upon the
scafibld I hurried away, trembling with the terrible thought
that a young life was about to be taken. As it was im-
possible for me to speak to him I hastened to escape the
sound of the drop, but did not succeed. The horrors of
war no pen can describe, no tongue can utter, no pencil
can paint The demoralizing influence over the soldier is
dreadful. No doubt desertion was this fellows aim, and,
to serve his purpose, be fell into this strong temptation
and crime. Desertion cost the life of one whom I saw in
Mississippi sitting on a white-pine coffin and followed iiy
his armed comrades, who were soon to take his life. It
was then as now, too late to speak a word to that soldier*
boy. And I hastened to outdistance the report of the guns
that took his life. But I &iled, as in the present sad
event
I called on a number of friends and co-laborers in
Bichmoud; for here, as in every place, I have found kin-
dred spirits. I spent the night with dear sisters in Christ,
who labored in his vineyard to uplift the lowly. Scrip-
ture reading and prayer closed this eventful day.
On March 3d, at six o'clock A. M., I left Richmond
and took the steamer Martin at the Rockets, followed by
my friend, Mrs. Morris, with a basket of fresh cakes,
apples, oranges, and a bottle of wine. I asked her to ex-
cuse me for objecting to the bottle of wne, as I never
drank it
"O, indeed, you must take it; your royal highness may
be ill, and you may find it quite proper to take a little
wine for your * stomach's sake.* Do n't, my dear madair
406 A woman's life-work.
refuse your most humble flervant the privilege of preaent-
iug this basket and its contents, wine and all, to my royal
madam."
And I saw by the starting tear that she would feel
quite hurt if I refused her, and accepted her gift.
As we steamed down the river I saw many little hil-
locks where were buried the fallen soldiers who left their
northern homes with high hopes of saving the nation's life
from the hand of treason. Here they fell long before
Richmond was taken. We passed Burmuda Hundred
and City Point, upon which stood General Grant's head-
quarters. Next came Harrison's Landing, near Preadent
Harrison's birth-place, an ancient appearing building situ-
ated upon a high bluff.
At Wilson's Landing and Clarmount Landing there was
a high bank, upon which lived one of the wealthiest men
in the State of Virginia, William Allen, who adopted the
name of his father-in-law for the sake of his immense
wealth. William Allen, sen., had no son, but an only
daughter, and he offered his entire estate to any young
man whom his daughter might be pleased to accept, if he
would assume his name; he cared not how poor he might
be, if he was only respectable. The daughter had many
suitors, but at length a young man won this bride and
adopted the whole name — ^William Allen. At the death
of the father-in-law he came into possession of thirteen
plantations and over four thousand slaves. All these plan-
tations were managed by overseers. One man told me he
had seen him take a keg of gold and, silver coins down to
the sand-bank, with a company of his comrades, on a holi-
day spree, and when they were all thoroughly drunk he
would take up a handful of gold and silver pieces, throw
them in the sand, and tell them to scramble, and he that
got the most was the best fellow. He, with the rest,
"scrambled," as he called it. William Allen declared that
the Yankees had robbed him of fifty thousand dollars*
AT JAMESTOWN. 407
worth of negroes under ten years of age, and more than
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars' worth of slaves
above that age.
At twelve o'clock we landed at Jamestown. In this
old, dilapidated place were yet standing brick walls of
three old buildings open to the birds and the bats. The
brick of these half-torn down buildings were transported
from England more than two hundred years ago. I saw a
piece of a marble slab from the graveyard dated 1626,
broken in pieces by soldiers for relics. We were soon met
by the ambulance-driver, and he took us through a nice
field of wheat owned by William Allen, just referred to,
who was one of our passengers to the ancient city of
Williamsburg. Here was a large insane asylum, built
of imported bricks from England, with a marble front,
erected -by Lord Bottetourt, governor of the colony. It
was founded in 1688. The tower was ninety-six feet high,
and the number of inmates one hundred and one, forty-
two of whom were colored. Robert M. Garrett was the
pliysiciau and superintendent. This is the oldest institu-
tion of the kind in the Union. In the front yard of this
asylum stands, in life-size, the statue of Lord Bottetourt.
As we were passing through the apartments wo listened to
a very sweet voice singing a hymn. Said my guide, "ifr.
Scott is singing for you. He is General Winfield Scott's
nephew. He bet both of his plantations that the Confed-
erates would succeed in this war, and when Richmond fell
he became insane and was brought here two weeks ago."
I was shown an old brick church in which was a colored
school of one hundred and ninety-six scholars, taught by
Miss Barton, of Connecticut, and a gentleman from Mich-
igan. Here I found myself at home at once. There were
here, previous to the late war, two institutions of learning —
the William and Mary College at one end of the main
street, and at the other, three-fourths of a mile distant,
the female seminary. The college was burned in the
408 A woman's life-work.
war of 1776, again in the war of 1812, and, for the third
time, a few months before I was there. There was no school
now in the female seminary, and it looked as if waiting
for repairs. Here is the old ivy-bound church in which
George Washington was married. The bricks of this build-
ing were also brought from En^and. This town was the
capital of thb State previous to its removal to Richmond.
I walked nearly two miles to Fort Magruder, where
I found a colored school of one hundred and fifty-eight
members, taught by Maggie Thorpe and Martha Haines,
of New Yorkj'^under the auspices of the Society of Friends.
To accommodate men and women who could not leave
their work during the day they opened a night school, and
had fifty of that class. Half of these did not know their
letters when their school opened in February, and could
then read quite fluently in the second and third readers.
A few miles further there was another school of thirty
scholars who had made commendable progress.
The teachers informed me that there were many very
old people on the oldest plantation near King's Mill, who
needed help. I was furnished with an ambulance, in which
I took a bale of bedding and clothing, and went from
cabin to cabin to visit twenty-seven aged people, from
sixty to a hundred and five years of age. Afler^ learning
their most urgent needs, I selected supplies for each. When
I expressed my surprise at seeing the old plantation with
such a grove of woods, Uncle Bob Jones, the oldest of them
nil, said:
'* Missus, all dat woods on dat side I helped clar off
when firs' woods was thar, beech, maple an' linn wood,
only now an' agin a pine. Den we work it till it wore out,
an' would n't noffin grow on it, an' we leP it to grow up to
de pines you see."
"Is this possible?" I said. "I saw men chopping saw-
mill logs as I came through that wood."
"Yes, missus," he answered; "shure's you are bo'n,
A NEW QUII^T. 409
my sweat lies dar under dcm big tree roots. My Milla an'
me was married when we 's chillen, an' we 's had a good
many chillen, but de Lo'd knows whar da*s gone to; da
sole down de riber, many, many year ago. But we prayed
to Lo*d Jesus to take keer on 'em all dese years, an' we '11
go home to glory soon."
In answer to my query as to his age, he said:
''Massa Moses' book say I's a hundred an' five, an'
my Milla 's a hundred an' three. I might slip count a year
or two, but I reckon not"
I never before met one couple living to this advanced
age. I gave them the best new quilt I had, made by a
class of Sabbath-school girls, from eight to fifteen years of
age, in Wayne County, Michigan. The names of ^e little
girls were written on the blocks they pieced. The old man
was quite blind, but he felt of it; then he exclaimed:
" Missus, did you say little white gals made this? Lo'd
bless the little angels! Honey, look at dis; we's neber
had sich a nice bed-kiver in all our lives.**
To this she assented :
" I see it 's a beauty ; we 's neber had sich a kiver aforei
missus; tell de sweet little angels we'll pray for 'em as
long as we live."
"Yes, tell 'em we won't stop prayin' for 'em when we
gits up yonder, in de mansions," rejoined the old man.
It seemed to them wonderful that white girls should
make such a nice quilt for black folks, and they were in
an ecstasy over the surprise. Aunt Milla could see to do
considerable work in their little garden patch, that some
of the younger men among them had spaded for her.
Every thing about their little cabin was neat and clean,
and their clothes were well patched. Uncle Bob had been
off this plantation but twice in his life ; then he went to
Williamsburg. It was affecting to see these old, worn-out
slaves rejoicing over freedom, but it seemed to be more on
account of their children and of their race. They hat'
35
410 A woman's i.ifk-work.
passed through many hard trials, but their fiiith was strcii^
that thej were sooo going to rest with Jesus.
A colored man brought two cripples to me, in his cart,
for relief, and their wants were supplied. He said he
wished I could see two old men who were living in the
mill. One of them was an old soldier in the Jackson war.
My ambulance friend took me to the old brick mill, that
was the first one built in that country, they said, more
than a hundred and fifty years ago. The roof was cov-
ered with thick moss. The cedar shingles, as well as bricks,
were brought from England.
I found here an intelligent mulatto man, of about sixty
years, who had had a fever-sore a little above the ankle a
number of years. He was the eldest of twenty-seven chil-
dren. His mother had thirteen pairs of twins, and he the
only single child, and they were all sold to slave-dealers of
the lower States.
"When my mother died in the cold cellar," he told me,
"I begged to see her, but my old master said he would
shoot me if I dared to set foot on his plantation, 'case I'd
been with Yankees; and she died one year ago, without a
child to give her a sip of water. My wife and seven chQ-
dren belong to another man, who said he would shoot my
brains out if I dared to come on his plantation. But I pray
God to help my wife to go to the soldiers before they are
all gone, and get them to help her to come to me with our
children. I was one of the slaves that master promised
freedom, at the close of General Jackson's war, and the
general promised us ten dollars a month besides during
service, which was one year and eight months. There
were five regiments of colored men. Some got their free-
dom as promised, but my master and many others were
more severe than ever. Ou my return home I reminded
my master of the promise of freedom by him and Greneral
Jackson, but I found it unsafe to say any thing more about
't. We thought General Jackson ought to have seen the
TWO AGED SISTERS. 411
promise made good, as long as he promised freedom as well
as cur masters. He gave us credit for being among the
best soldiers he had. But we never would have fought as
we did had it not been for freedom ahead. We pledged
ourselves to each other, that we never would fight for white
folks again, unless we knew our freedom was sure. And
never would our people have gone into this war had it not
been for the Proclamation of Emancipation from the Pres-
ident of the whole United States."
This man was the most intelligent and used the best
language of any colored person of his age I met in this
portion of Virginia. His mother's name was Maria Samp-
son. She lived and died in King William County, Vir-
ginia. There were twenty sons and seven daughters of her
own. Yet, through wicked enactments, her master tore
from her every one, and claimed her own body besides, as
a valuable piece of property.
My next visit was to an old brick kitchen. In the
'* lofl," lived two aged sisters of seventy-five and eighty years,
whose youngest brother, of about sixty years, was insane.
His sisters said about twenty years ago he *' lost his mind.''
His wife and children were all sold from him down the
river, and he grieved so long over it, he lost his mind, and
never came right since. As I entered, I took him by the
hand and inquired for the aged women in that house; he
pointed to the stairway. As I was going up the stairs, he
danced to and fro, slapping his hands, " Glory, hallelujah
to the Lamb I" I paused to look at him. His sisters met
me at the head of the stairs, and said, *' Do n't mind him,
he has no mind, and is rejoicin' to see a white woman come-
up these stairs, for it's a new thing. I reckon there hain't
been a white woman up here more'n twenty year, an' lie
don't know how to tell his gladness." They said he was
good to bring them wood and water, and take care of him-
self in washing and patching his own clothes. I presented
412 A womax'h LI FE- WOllK.
him a suit, aud when he found they would fit him, the
dancing and singing were resumed. I should judge from
the history his sisters gave of him, and from his high fore-
head, that he had been a man of more than ordinary talent.
These sisters, too, had been made widows and childless, by
slavery's cruel hand. This I found to be the hard lot of
all these old people. They told me of many cruel over-
seers, that would take the life of a slave, to get their names
up as '' boss overseers." I told them I had heard of in-
stances where an overseer was missing occasionally. One
old man dropped his head, then looking up said, in a hes-
itating manner, " Ts knowed that in my time, but massar
keep it mighty still, an' say de overseer runned away, an'
he git one right soon agin." I talked and read, and offered
prayer with these stripped and lonely ones.
During my three weeks' stay in Williamsburg, Fort
Magruder, and vicinity, I had a number, of meetings with
these newly freed slaves, three of them in those old slave-
pens in which were large schools taught.
I took a stroll through the old grave-j'ard which sur-
rounded the old ivy-covered church. The marble slabs
were mostly in a horizontal position, with quaint inscrip-
tions. In these J, or I, was often found in place of the
figure 1. The spelling, too, we should call badly warped.
I copied a few of the epitaphs, as follows:
Here lyes the Body of Mr. John Collett, who departed this
life February 24th, J 794, aged 52 years.
Sacred to the memory of lames Nicholson, late ftuard of
William and Mary College. Was born in the Town of Invenck,
North Britton, ano 171 1 ; died the 22nd of January, 1773. Fru*
gality — industry, and simplicity of manners and independence of
Soul Adorned his character and procured universal esteem.
READER,
I.earn from this example as the moft exalted Station may be de-
bnfed by vice, fo there is no Htuation in life on which virtue will
not confer DIGNITY.
MEETING AT BARRACKS. 413
Mrs. Catharine Stephenson died April 22; born in Nottingham-
shire, J 7 78.
Her body now slumbers along with the dead;
Her Savior hath called, to him she has gone ;
Be ye also ready to follow her soon.
Under this marble lieth the body of Thomas Ludwell, Esq.,
Secretary of Virginia, who was born at Britton in of Summerset in
the kingdom of England, and departed this life in the year J67S;
and near this place lye the bodies of Richard Kerdp, Esq., his
predecefsor in ye Secretary's office and Sr.
Thomas Lunsford, Kt., in memory of whom this marble is
placed by order of Philip Ludwell, Esq., nephieu of the faid
Thomas Ludwell, in the year J727.
As Yorktown was an important post, after three weeks'
work in this section, I repaired to that ancient place.
There I found two large camps. A few large freedmen's
schools were established under the auspices of Philadelphia
Friends, and of these Jacob Vining had supervision. Two
others were under the supervision of the American Mis-
sionary Association. Both were doing a noble work for
these people, who were like hungry children, grasping at
the food handed them by these Christian teachers.
We had a very large meeting in the old barracks fitted
up for school and meetings. There were more tlian could
get inside, and groups stood at the door and outside the
windows. Here I met two young men who had walked
all the way from beyond Fort Magruder, eighteen miles, to
attend this meeting. They were more intelligent than the
larger portion of life-long slaves. They were encouraged
in the future prospect of freedom. They said the white
{)eople declared they would soon have all their slaves back
again, the same as they had before the war. Said one,
" They talk it so strong it makes us trimble. For we-uns
think they'd be harder on us than ever." I told them to
look at that strong fort built by Confederates, which the^
had said ''all the Yankees of the North coidd ne
414 A woman's lifk-work.
take." ** AuJ where is it now?" I said. " You niav rest
assured it wiii be as I repeated to^lay, 'Except the Ix>nl
keep the city the watchman walketh but in vain; except
the Lord buikl the house they labor in vain who build it'
The Lord will never permit the house of bondage to be re-
built, for the cup of our nation's wickedness has been filled
to the brim. They will never again barter for paltry gold
the bodies and souls of those whom Christ died to redeem
with his own precious blood. No, never." They wept,
while talking over the past, with new hopes before them of
their future. They said they were well paid for their long
walk, though they should work the next day with blistered
feet They were working for their old owner, as he had
promised to pay them. They had sometimes felt fearful as
to the final result of this war. If there were doubts, they
would go as far North as they could while they were enjoy-
ing their present liberty.
A number lingered to talk with me on the prospect of
freedom or slavery for them, telling me of the positive
expressions of their former masters, and of their threats
of having them all back again within a few months. They
wanted to know what the prospect was in Washington.
*^ Do you think we are sure to come out of the wilder-
ness?" said one.
*' Will this sun of freedom, now peepin troo de black
cloud, come cFar out, an' make a bright day?" said an-
other.
I found many of these people in trouble, because they
saw plainly the old slave spirit reviving, and they were
trembling with fear; but others had stronger faith. There
was one poor woman, whose husband and four children
were sold to a trader, to be taken down the river in a
gang. When the news came to her masters home that
Richmond had fallen, she said:
*' Missus an* all was cryin', and say da catch Jefi.
'Oavis. An' I hurrie<l de supper on de table ; an* I say,
AUNT 8ALI,Y. 415
Mifsiifl, can Dilla wait on table till I go to de bush-spriug
an' git a bucket o' cik.)1 water?' She ^y, * Hurry, Mill ;'
an' 1 seed 'em all <Uwn to table afore I stiirts. Deu I
walks slow till I git out o' sight, when I runu'd wid all
my might till I git to de spring, an' look all 'round, an' I
jump up an' scream, 'Glory, glory, hallelujah to Jesus!
I 's free! I *8 free! Glory to God, you come down an* free
us; no big man could do it.' An' I got sort o' scared,
afeared somebody hear me, an' I takes another good look,
an' &11 on de groun', an' roll over, an' kiss de groun' fo' de
Lord's sake, I 's so full o' praise to Massar Jesus. He do
all dis great work. De soul buyers can neber take my
two chillen lef me; no, neber can take 'em from me no
mo';" and the tears fell thick and fast as she told me how
she clung to her husband, then to her children, as the
trader took them to the slave-pen to lock up till they were
ready to start for the river. Her mistress ordered her to
be whipped because she cried so long for her husband and
children. I did not wonder at her ecstasy.
A poor old slave, called Aunt Sally, came to me April
15th, crippled with rheumatism, and walking as well as
she could with two canes. She asked for a blanket or
quilt, saying that one old blanket had been her only bed
for seven years. I told her I should {lass her home the
the next day, and would bring her some things. Hhe said,
'* I mus' hurry back, or missus will fin' me out. You gib
'em to the man choppin' wood in de yard ; he '11 put 'em
in de cellar for me. Missus is mighty hard on you alls ;"
and she hobbled back as fast as she could with two canes.
But her mistress found out that she had been to see me,
and told her she should never set her foot inside her yard
again, neither should a Yankee. The day following I took
a package for Aunt Sally, containing a straw bed-tick,
quilt, blanket, and a good suit of clothes; for I had learned
that Mrs. Pendleton, the daughter of cx-Prcsident Taylor,
was a hard mistress. Aunt Sally had served her father
416 A M'oman's jjfk-wokk.
nud helped bring up his cliildrcu, and was now seventy-
five or eighty years old. From the cold, damp cellar, with
only one blanket to cover her, she had become badly cri]>
pled, and was left to die, like an old worn-out horse.
The colored man near the fence of the back yard told
me 1 would find Aunt Bally in a little cabin be pointed
out, with two old colored people. I found her crying. She
said her mistress had turned her out, and told her she
should never come inside her yard, nor eat a kernel of the
corn that she had planted in ground all spaded by her-
self, and it was growing so nice. The old people very
kindly offered to share with her. He was a cobbler, and
made all he could; but he said they had but one bed. I
furnished one for her, and gave the old people a quilt and
a few needed garments for their kindness to Aunt Sally.
They, too, had been stripi^ed of all their large family, as
well as Aunt Sally of hers.
As I passed Mrs. Pendleton's front yard I saw a large
bloodhound on the door-step as sentinel. Even a look at
him from the street brought a threatening growL
Here, too, were William and Phillis Davis, over eighty
years of age, they think. They had fourteen children,
"all sold down the river," they said, "except those we's
got in heaven. We *s glad they 's safe, an' we trus' de
jubilee trumpet will reach their ears, way down Souf, we
do n't know whar. We 's cried for freedom many years,
an' it come at last," said the old, tottering man.
Eva Mercer, over seventy-five years of age, had a large
family. Her husband and all her children were sold
twenty years ago. She had been left to perish alone, and
had had no underclothes for seven years. She was sup-
plied, and made more comfortable than she had been
for years.
David Gary, one hundred years old, in great suffering,
was relieved. He, too, had a large family. Three wives
vers sold from him, and his children, one, two, and three
BAPTIST MEETING. 417
at a time, were sent down the river, never to be heard
from again. He said he forgot a great many things every
day, " but I can never forget the grief I passed through
in parting with my good wives and chillens."
Press Tabb, ninety years old, was turned out of his
cabin, and came to the captain crying. He said, **Mas8ar
Tabb turn me out to die by de roadside. I begged him to
let me build me a cabin in de woods, and he say if I cut
a stick in his woods he'll shoot me.** The captain in-
formed J. P. Tabb that he would violate the martial law,
and be fined and imprisoned, if he turned that old man
out of his cabin, where he had lived and served him many
years. The poor lone man was permitted to remain. J.
P. Tabb owned twelve thousand acres of land, and had
called himself master of one hundred and sixty slaves;
now all had left him.
Sunday, May 3d, was a beautiful Sabbath. In the
morning I attended service at the school-house, conducted
by a Baptist minister, who examined nine new converts.
Among them was a little girl, Susan Monroe, eight years
old. The preacher asked her, '' What have you got to say
'bout Jesus, sis ?**
'^ He tuck de han' cntb off my ban's," she replied, ** an'
de spancels off my feet, an' Jesus made me free."
With a few other satis&ctory answers he passed to the
next, a man of forty, perhaps: ''And what have you to
tell us?"
"It 'peared," he said, "like Fs so heavy here, on my
heart I could do nufiin but groan, ' Massar Jesus have
pity on poor me;' an' as I was a walkin' 'Iqpg de road, he
cum sure, an' poured hisself all over me, an' cover over
my ban's an' my feet, an' made me all over new. I say is
dis me? Glory, hallalujah! dis is me. I went on an' met
sis Molly. ' What's de matter o' me ? its all full tide here,'
I says. * Why honey,* she answered, *you's got ligion^
praise de Lord ! Now keep de pure stuff, do n't trade it
418 A woman's life-work.
for dc devil.* An' by de help o' de Lord, I do n't do any
sich tradin'."
The next was queried. ''Ah, I's played de fool," he
said, ''in jUt dat kind o' tradin'. I's an ole backslider.
Ole Satan had me, sure, an' I cried, ' Massar Jesus, save
me from dat horrible pit,' an' he fotch me out, an' put
dese feet on de rock, and here I means to stan'."
Others were examined, and a season of prayer fol-
lowed. Their prayers were marked for their originality,
and earnestness. Said one woman, '' Oh Lord, do please
hitch up your cheer a little nearer your winder — draw aside
your curtain, an' look down 'pon us poor oi^turs, an' gib
your table-cloth a good shake, dat we may pick up a few
crumbs."
There were many of these much more intelligent than
I supposed I should find them, and used as good language
as the white people. House-servants and body-servants
were more intelligent than those who lived only in the field.
They were very imaginative, and talked with God. One
woman in giving a sketch of slave life, said a young girl
went to a night meeting contrary to orders, and for so
doing was stripped naked and whipped in the presence of
the other slaves, the master himself plying the lash. While
she cried for mercy her master replied, ''I'll give you
mercy." " Good Lord do come and help me." " Yes, I 'U
help you" (and kept plying the lash). "Do, Lord, come
now; if you ha' n't time send Jesus." **Yes, I'm your
Jesus," retorted the inhuman persecutor, and he continued
to ply the lash until thirty strokes were well laid on.
The colonel commanding this post called on me with a
request to go to Gloucester Court-house, to look after the
condition of the freedmen there. There were several very
old, crippled people in Gloucester, in almost a nude condi-
tion. I agreed to go, and the colonel went to procure a
buggy, as his own was broken; but he failed to get one,
though more than a double price was nflfered, because he
A BRIGADIER -OBNBRAT.. 419
Tvas a Yankee. He retarned discouraged, as ho y/aa uii-
willing to send me in a Virginia cart, the only govern-
ment conveyance. I told him I had frequently seen the
wealthiest ladies sitting on straw, with no other seat in the
cart " O yes," he answered, " the F. F. V.'s ride in that
way here. But you look too much like my mother to see
you go in that style. I could not bear to have your chil-
dren in Michigan know that I sent their mother out to ride
thirty miles in that way f and tears filled his eyes, as he
referred to his own mother in his far off Northern home.
I told him if I could accomplish any good by going, I was
more than willing to take the cart-ride, as I could make a
Bemt with my bale of clothing, and thus I went.
I crossed York River at Gloucester Point, and stepped
into a store to wait for our soldier driver. Here a South-
em brigadier-general addressed me in the following style :
'*I reckon you are from the North, madam."
'' I am from the State of Michigan," I said, ** but more
directly from Washington."
" You Northern people can not be satisfied with rob-
bing us of millions of dollars in slaves, that were just as
much our property as your horses and cattle, but you stole
our sheep and horses, or any tiring else you could get
hands on ; and yet that was not enough. Now you have a
bill in Congress to rob us of our land, and of course it will
pass. Then we 11 go to work and mix up a little cake to
bake for our families, and you '11 come and snatch even that
away from us."
'* You probably refer," I said, ^' to the bill just intro-
duced, to allow the leaders in this Bebellion no more than
twenty thousand dollars' worth of real estate, confiscating
the balance, to sell in parcels to the soldiers and poor peo-
ple, black or white, on liberal terms, to liquidate the war
debt. This debt would never have been contracte<l, had
not the South brought on the war. You fired upon Sum-
ter ; you determined to sever the Union. It was a bai|;ai
420 A woman's ofe-work.
of your own making. You determined to make slavery
tbe chief corner-stone of the Republic, but another stone.
Liberty, has ground it to jxiwder. We had better accept
the situation as we find it, and not call each other thieves
and robbers because your chief comer-stone is no more. Gotl
never designed that we should make mcrcluiudise of human
lieings. In the written Wonl we find that God made of
(me blood all the nations of the earth. We find there no
lines of distinction because of color or condition. Now let
us drop slavery and hold it no longer as the bone of con-
tention, and live henceforward a united nation."
With flushed face and flashing eyes he said, *^ Never,
NEVER shall we give up our rights. We acknowledge you
have overpowered us, but you have not, and never will^
conquer us; we shall yet in some way secure our righis as
Southerners, notwithstanding airyour Northern preaching."
"If you carry out your position," I rejoined, "you will
unite with some foreign power to break up our government,
or to grind its republican form into }>owder and scatter it
to the four winds."
"Of course we should, and you can't blame us for doing
that. It is just eicactly what we shall do if we have the
chance."
After a few minutes' nnpleasant talk of this sort our
soldier drove in front of the door for me. We borroweil a
little box, u|)on which a cofiee sack of clothing was laid,
and we thus made a comparatively comfortable seat.
We reached Gloucester, and, on May 10th, went to the
oflice of Captain McCounell. He was engaged all the
morning in hearing complaints on the ])art of the freedmeu
and in adjusting their wrongs. Some of them were pitiable
cases of outrage, but we can not report them here. There
were eight difficulties settled within the few hours that I
remained in the office. I resumed visiting and supplying
the wants of the destitute as far as my means would allow,
"^here were some old and crippled people here in the same
YOUKTOWX. 421
condition as those whom I had relieved in other i^laces in
this part of the State. As usual, I took with nie my
Bible, for these colored people had none, because they had
never 1)cen jx^rmittod to learn to read. Alany of them
gave thrilling sketches of their experiences in slave-life.
On May 13th, at four o'clock P. M., 1 fouud myself
back at Old Yorktown. Here I visited the cave in which
General Gomwallis was found. The old wood house in
which the treaty was signed is covered with thick moss.
A two-story brick building was Washington's head-quarters
after he took possession of Yorktown. It was also the
headquarters of the Union generals after it fell into their
hands. Here was the stamping-ground of two great armies.
The contention was not now with British red-coats, as in
the Revolution, but with our brethren in gray. Bichard
Lee, an ex-slave-holder, undertook to whip a colored man
with the help of his overseer, after the old style, but iu
the struggle he found himself cut in two or three places,
and the blood was flowing pretty freely from the overseer.
The colored man told them whipping days were past, and
he came out of the affray with but few scratches. His
offense was refusing to work on Sunday afternoon. They
entered no complaint at the office of the Freedmen's
Bureau, and the colored man went about his business
unmolested.
After taking leave of many dear friends at this place,
through the kindness of sister Ailsgood, the matron of the
Teachen^ Home, I was conveyed to the boat in Lieutenant
Mass/s carriagei We enjoyed a beautiful run on the
Chesapeake. Among our {xassengers for Norfolk was a
young lady who seemed bright and gay, but had nearly
spoiled herself with afiectation. She was going to visit her
aunt previous to entering u|K)u her new duties in teaching
a school.
''I never did do any thing of the kiud,** she told u'
** but {Mi says I must, now that we have lost all our s
422 A WOMAN^S LIFE-WORK.
antd by this awful war. But I dou't know bow III do.
Do you think I can teach a small school?"
Receiving a word of encouragement, she went on:
"^ "I reckon 111 have to try. We've always had a lady
preceptress at our house, besides the nurse, to take care
of us."
A few minutes after I saw her weeping bitterly, as if
her heart was nearly broken. Placing my hand upon her
shoulder I inquired if she had heanl bad news that was
grieving her? Bhe sobbed and sighed with quite an effort
in commanding her feelings to sjieak.
** No ; do you see that man yonder with a light hat on?"
"Yes.''
"AVell, he winked at nic, and I was never so insulted
in my life."
And she burst again into tears.
"Dou't grieve over that," I said; "I wouldn't look
at him."
"But I never was so insulted. I'm so glad my brother
ain't here; I tell you there 'd be tnnible."
"Never mind; don't notice him."
"Won't you stand by me?"
"Yes; 111 stand here," I answered. And she soon
became calm, when I thought it safe to leave. But a few
moments later I saw her weeping as hanl as ever. I went
across the cabin to her relief the thinl time and inquired,
".What is the trouble now ?"
"He winked at me again, and I never, never was so
insulted. I know if my brother was here he 'd shoot him,
for he'd never stand this."
I stood by her this time till I saw her in the ladies^
dressing-room, by her request remaining between her and
the object of her fears, who was at least fifteen feet from
us, Bitting in the farthest end of the cabin. Aft^r she had
washed and combed her hair she asked, "How does my
^air look? I never combed my hair myself. Our nurse
A SOUTHERN GIRI^ 423
did that always, until six months ago our last servant left
us. I don't know if it looks well anyhow, for I don't
know how to dress it. And do my eyes look as if I 'd
been crying?"
"Not to be noticed,** I said. " You look all right'*
"Will you see if that fellow has gone outf
On the report that he had left she returned. I inquired
if she was alone.
*'0, no, not entirely; pa put me under the care of a
splendid roan; I xcckon he's on deck; O, he's such a beau*
tiful gentleman; he was pa's overseer a good many years;
pa thought he couldn't carry on our plantation without
him; when I see him 111 be all right I reckon you've
heard of my pa. Every body knows him — ^Mr. Hampton—
in Gloucester County, one of the most splendid counties iu
the State. "Were you ever in Gloucester County?**
" I was there last week," I answered.
" Is n't it the most beautiful county you ever saw?**
I replied, " Nature has done enough to make it so.**
"It was a grand county before the war," she said.
" Every body thinks it *s the best county in the State of
"Virginia."
But my opinion widely differed from hers. It seemed
to me one of the darkest and most God-forsaken comers
of the earth. But the influence of slavery ha<l its delete-
rious effects upon whites as well as blacks.
Laura Hampton knew nothing of self-reliance. All she
knew was to be a consequential young lady of distinction,
full of exalted qualifying adjectives in the superlative de-
gree. But she was not so much to blame as her parents
for her simpering and tossing the head with overstocked
afllectation. She was to be pitied for her unfortunate sur-
roundings. Her "splendid man," a "beautiful gentle-
man," was a coarse, burly headed " Legrce" in appearance.
I arrived at Norfolk at four o'clock P. M., and found
a pleasant home at the Tyler House. Here I met eightef
424 A woman's life-work.
teachers, with wliom I enjoyed a refreshing prayer-meeting,
led by S. J. Whiting, a missionary, who gave an interesting
sketch of his experience in the Mendi Mission in Africa.
I gave an account of the work accomplished through the
blessing of God in the Mississippi Valley, while I was ac-
companied by my dear sister Backus, and spoke of trials
I had recently passed through. Here were kindred spir-
its, with whom we held sweet communion, and with our
Heavenly Father, who is ever near at hand.
While in this part of the State, I saw^ a white woman
who had been cruelly assaulted and beaten with a raw-hide
by her sister and niece for associating with the teachers
of our freedmcn's schools. They thought she had dis-
graced the family; but she said she would not turn away
from those Christian ladies, however her own kindred
might treat her. O the wrongs and outrages which the
spirit of slavery inflicted not only on the blacks, but also
on the white people of the SouthI
I
fbeedmen's scnooLS. 425
Chapter XV.
EXPERIENCES AMONG FRBEDMEN.
I WAS told by General Armstrong, commander of the
post in Elizabeth City, that twenty-five thousand inhale
itants had been supplied with food, and that more whites
than blacks had called for rations. There were six thou-
sand freedmen in this district Twenty -six hundred of
their children were in schools ; and thirteen hundred were
half or entire orphans, that drew rations. They had had
no civil court here since March 20th, and no justice was
shown to freedmen. There was as much complaint here
as elsewhere about their unwillingness to work; but the
general said it was only because they got no pay. A few
plantations were rented here by Northerners; but they
made no complaint for want of hands, and had more ap*
plications for work than they could furnish.
General Armstrong secured a carriage, May 18th, to
take hb wife and myself to the Downey School, a few
miles distant, to see what a noble work the two Stewart
asters were there doing. He took us to a large farm of
eight hundred and six acres, rented by a Northern man
by the name of Jackson, who said he had worked it three
years, and had taken it for two years longer. He had no
difficulty in keeping good help. "All these people want
is fair and kind treatment" he said, " to make good and
faithful hands the year around. I can not employ all who
come for work. I have seen them leave weeping over
their disappointment"
Near this place was the school conducted by the two
sisters, Emily and Jennie Stewart, of South Hill, Steubf
30
426 A woman's life-work.
County, New York. They had one hundred and eighty-
five scholars, and were doing a grand work among the
white people in that community. Two young men were
converted through their instrumentality, and were exerting
a powerful influence over the white people. They were
attending the school, to which a number of white families
sent their children. It widely differs from all others I
have visited in the South. These earnest Christian girls
were emphatically teaching a school of Christ on week-days
as well as on the Sabbath. The two young men referred*
to had the ministry in view, and were very earnest in their
exhortations. I addressed the school, and conversed with
those young white men, who seemed in a very tender frame
of mind. These dear sisters urged me to spend a week
with them ; and General Armstrong kindly offered to send
his conveyance for me at the close of the week, or when-
ever I might fix the time. But as my supplies were out,
I lavished to hasten back to Washington.
During the day's ride we passed the place of a large
Sabbath-school, which was first opened by a soldier, W.
Badger, Jun., a faithful laborer in this work. It had
flourished ever since.
We visited a number of plantations with which the
general was unacquainted. He hailed a passer-by to in-
quire the distance to the Old Brick Church. ^* O, you 're
smash up to it," he said. I looked up to see it, when he
continued, '"T ain't but two miles ahead." The general
thought it was three miles, at least, before we reached the
old colonial church, built one hundred and twenty-five years
ago, out of brick brought from England.
We passed through a forest of young pmes that had
been rented three years to colored people in five and ten
acre lots. They were to receive one-fourth of all they
raised, and pay the remainder as rent. Said the genera],
as we came opposite a ten-acre lot where a man, his wife,
and daughter were all hard at work grubbiog, " That man
8LAVE 3fARK£T IN A CHURCH. 427
will hardly get a meager subsistence from one-fourth of
that land." And he inquired of the man if he expected
to get his living off the fourth of that lot
''I reckon so," was the answer. *' After we gets the
crop in my wife and gal can tend it, and 1 11 get work by
the day while its growin'."
Sunday, May 20th, was a pleasant Sabbath. I attended
a large meeting, and listened to a very interesting discourse
by a freedman. At the close he earnestly exhorted his
hearers to purity of life in their new freedom. He wanted
to see all filthy habits left behind with bondage. " Do not
let us take with us," he said, '' any habit of drinking — ^not
even using tobacco. Let us search ourselves, and see if
we are worshiping God with clean hearts and mouths."
Opportunity being offered, I made a few remarks from
n Chronicles, xv: 12, ''And they entered into covenant
to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart
and with all their soul." After meeting, minister and peo-
ple gathered around me to shake my hands, until they
were lame a number of days. Said one, ** Da's took de
bridle off our heads, an' let us loose to serve God." Near
the place was the Zion Methodist Church, that had been
used occasionally for auction Mies of slaves. There were
thirty acres here, purchased by colored people, laid out in
two-acre lots. Most of them had built little cabins, but
others were working out by the day to earn means to pay
for their lots before they built.
In the evening I visited a school of twenty-five adults,
who could not attend during the day. A number of them
read for me very intelligibly. James TVright did not know
his letters at Christmas, but could now read fluently. He
was sixty years of age. Robert Bell, aged fifty, who did
not know his letters in March, could now read in the sec-
ond reader.
Captain Flagg and wife invited me to take another ride
out in the country where colored people had rented land
428 * A woman's life-work.
On our way we met five carts laden with F. F. V/s. The
captain inquired of one man how far it was to Providence
Church. "Sir," he answered, "you are slap-jam on to it;
only a mile and a half, sure." As usual we went twice the
distance ; the captain said he always calculated a Virginia
mile to be double the length of ours. This church had been
built one hundred years before with brick brouglit from
England. We called on six families. Said one woman,
"I tried hard to serve God forty years ago, but mighty
idle ; Massa's lash so sharp, 'peared like we poor crcturs
never rest till we drop in our graves.**
We visited Ex-Governor Henry A. Wise's plantation of
five hundred acres, with fifty cabins in the negro quarters.
This was confiscated. There were many of his former slaves
here, aged and helpless, and a successful school was taught
in his dwelling-house. Here were seventeen schools under
the charge of the American Missionary Association, which
were taught by eleven lady teachers and six gentlemen.
H. C. Perry was the superintendent of schools in Norfolk
District.
The Taylor plantation was the next which we visited.
It contained seventeen thousand acres, seven hundred acres
of which were worked, and ready for renting to freedmen.
In Captain Flagg's district there were three thousand four
hundred and eighty-six freed children attending day-school,
and five hundred and one scholars in the night-schools.
One hundred and ninety-two of these were over sixteen
years of age. The above included seven counties: Nor-
folk, Princess Ann, Nansemond, Isle of Wight, Southamp-
ton, Accomack, and Northampton, the last two on the east-
cm shore of Chesapeake Bay. It is well to note the hioovne
of these confiscated plantations, that had, up to May 25,
1866, been returned to original owners. There had been
paid over by Captain Flagg to government toward liqui-
dating the war debt, thirteen thousand dollars. All of
his was the avails of negro help on the government farms,
\
PREPARING TO GO HOME. 429
except the Wise and Taylor plantations, that were still
occupied for the benefit of the aged, sick, blind, and crip-
pled men, women, and orphans.
I returned to Washington, where I foimd a request
that I should take fifteen colored orphans to our Home in
Michigan.
The commissioners having charge of money sent here
by all the Free States, for sanitary purposes, proposed to
place five hundred dollars in my hands for the two or-
phan asylums in Michigan, out of the nine hundred dol-
lars that came from our State. This was to be equally .
divided between Detroit Orphan Asylum and the one in
Baisin Institute, known at that time as Haviland Home. _
A majority of the commissioners objected to its being
placed in the hands of a woman, to select goods to be
purchased at auction rates. G)nsequently, a young man
was sent with me to see that wise selections were made for
the little homeless waifs for whom the relief was designed.
Being somewhat acquainted with my work, he said he was
ashamed of the vote of the board, in distrusting my abil-
ity to select goods for the little children of the asylums,
when I had been at this work all my life, and constantly
during three years past. But I told him I was thankful
to get the five hundred dollars, and could waive their no-
tions of woman's inability very comfortably. He assented
to all the selections I made, and I arranged to return
home with the fifteen orphans and forty laborers, who wished
to go to Cleveland, Ohio, where their friends had gone for
work and reported to them fiivorably.
I found in these people a strong attachment to their
own color ; hence the unwillingness for a few to go a great
distance without a prospect of others to follow. It was a
heavy pressure of persecution that could drive them from
their old Southern homea to Washington for protection,
and the heavy pressure of want staring them in the face
that could induce them to leave for Northern States \r
^
430 A woman's lipe-wobk.
find work. Fifteen thousand were then huddled in and
about Washington. Hundreds could not .get work at ten
cents a day, besides rations. General O. O. Howard gave
transportation for many car-loads to go to the States of
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and otheiu&ee States. But
the freedmen could not be persuaded to go into the former
slave States, after having left them. General Howard said
Northern humanitarians ought to have a share in this
Christian enterprise of furnishing work for the able-bodied
and assisting to care for these indigent children ; and he
urged me to bring as many as practicable.
Mrs. Ricks knew of fift;een who wished to follow their
friends that had gone to Ohio, and said she would assist
me in going through to Adrian, where Joseph McKenae
had spoken to me for eight or ten strong men for his brick-
yard. If they had &milies he said he would help them in
building houses on his own land, and if both were suited
he would eventually sell lots to them.
While calling on F. C. Beaman, member of Congress,
and wife, I was urged to rest three or four days, at least,
before leaving for home. But I told them I must hasten
home to rest Transportation was secured for fifty-five
adults and fift;een orphans. Before we reached Altoona I
found rations had not been provided for adults, and that
we must purchase at least seventy-five loaves of bread at
that town. As the train halted a few minutes, I left for
the bakery, but found that it had been removed a block
further. We went on a run, and secured the bread ; and
I sent the men running with it, so as to reach the cars
before they should start But I was left behind, with
three young men who refused to desert me. The men
with the bread reached the cars just as they were begin-
ning to move. Mrs. Bicks being with them, I was easy as
to their condition. I found I had better keep as quiet as
possible, as I was threatened with an attack of dysentery.
But transportation, with my official papers, had all gone
PASSES SECURED. 431
on, and there was not a soul in Altoona that I ever knew.
Yet I was not discouraged, but took the three youug men
with me to the railroad superintendent's office, and told
the Buperintendent I had come on a queer errand, and told
my short story. '* And now I solicit the favor of a pass
for myself and these three youug men. But you do not
know whether I have given you a truthful representation,
for I have not so much as a scratch of a pen with me
to prove it."
Baid he : '' You say your name is Laura S. Haviland.
Did you not secure a pass to Chicago and return, three
years ago, of Mr. Campbell, at Adrian?"
"I did," was my reply, **as I was going South with
sanitary supplies."
''I thought I had seen you before," he said. *'I was
his chief clerk, and made out those passes for you; and I
will give you a pass, as you request. Would you like to
telegraph to the lady assistant?"
**I suppose," I said, "she will stop over at Pittsburg
until I overtake them; but it would be a &vor if their
baggage could be properly rechecked at Pittsburg to stop
over one train at Cleveland, as a portion of the adults are
to stop there."
'' I will telegraph the freight agent to take special care
in rechecking their baggage, and request the operators to
telegraph to railroad authorities at Cleveland that this car-
load of blacks in charge of Mrs. Bicks are to Avait over
one train for you."
I told him if that could be done without fail it would
be a great favor, as I was sick, and Mrs. Ricks would
have time to send these colored people up town to their
friends. He telegraphed all these directions, and also re-
quested the ticket-agent to meet me with the passes.
While waiting for the train I was furnished with a so&
by the kind matron who kept the ladies' waiting-room. I
was met at the Pittsburg depot with passes, and conductcc^
432 A woman's lilPE-WOBK.
to the waiting-room for a few moments, when the joiing
man came to assist me on the right car. By this time my
fever ran high, but higher still on reaching Cleveland, and
finding that all had gone on to Adrian. Here tickets to
Adrian were waiting for me.
I met brother J. Berry at Adrian depot, who informed
nie that all were cared for. I left all with the Lord and
the good people of Adrian, who knew nothing of my try-
ing experiences.
My children were urgent to send for the doctor at once.
I insisted on my water treatment, but promised to comply
with their request if not materially better in twelve hours.
A few days of rest and quiet restored my health.
Although Adrian was a little alarmed at this new ex-
perience of army stampedes, yet in due time places were
found for all to work, and eventually many of them be-
came owners of their own homes.
The children of soldiers and other homeless waifs,
needed attention, and I found more than a dozen in our
Orphans' Home without a shirt for a change. But sister
Annie Berry donated forty yards of heavy sheeting, and
within two weeks we 'had a hundred yards made up into
substantial garments for these little homeless ones. My
health being still too poor for hard work, I spent a few
weeks with my son, Joseph B. Haviland, at Acme, Grand
Traverse County.
On my return home, I found our commission had con-
cluded to close the asylum work, and expend its means in
supporting schools in the Houth. They had sold the West
Hall, and it had been removed to Tecumseh, and they
ivere about to sell the team and other property. I now
stated the motive I had when I gave the deed with a pro-
viso, and said that removing the building was a wrong
step for our commission to take, in view of the proviso. I
met the commission in Detroit, and laid before them my
object, and my desire to make it a State asylum, for the
TRANSFER OF ASYI-UM. 433
children of soldiers and all others who were in our county
poor-houses, that were mere nurseries for the prison. I had
inquired of superintendents of penitentiaries, how many
of the convicts had been left orphans in childhood; and
the average in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and
our Michigan State Prison was more than three-fourths.
Emma A. Hall, matron of the female prisoners in the
Detroit house of correction, informed me that every girl
and woman under her care had been left an orphan in
childhood. In view of this record, and of there being a
greater number of that class since the war than ever be-
fore, I had felt the necessity for this asylum.
George Duffield, D. D., the president of our commis-
sion, replied: "We know not but this check is of the
Lord, for we are finding it hard work to secure homes for
the forty children now in the Home who are under ten
years of age." And he moved that a month be alloweil
me to make satisfactory arrangements according to my de-
sign. AVhile I was endeavoring to secure ten-dollar sub-
scriptions to efiect this result, J. R Shipherd, secretary
of the Western Division American Missionary Association,
sent an agent to purchase the asylum and continue it in its
present form. He stated the American Missionary Associa-
tion could not take it ^vith the proviso, but would pay me
two hundred and fifty dollars of the five hundred dollars I
had agreed to deduct out of the two thousand dollars pur-
chase money, if I should relinquish the proviso. I feared
the result, thinking the enterprise might be only an experi-
ment, and might close at some future period, leaving these
children a public burden. But J. R Shipherd pledged
his word that no child of whom the American Missionary
A8i«ociation should take control should become a public
burden, and would further agree to expend on the build-
ing and grounds, at least from three thousand to five thou-
sand dollars within a year and a half or two years at longest.
From the confidence I had in the association I yielded
37
434 A woman's i.ife-work.
though rehictantly. The agent desired me to take charge
of the asyhim as matron, ten days or two weeks, as llr.
Shipherd could secure a matron from Vieksburg, Missia-
sippi, in that time. I agreed ^to do this free of charge.
Mrs. Edgerton, whom he engaged as matron, arrived in
four weeks.
It was now late in October, and my Winter cough began
to trouble me. This the Southern Winters had melted
away during three Winters past, and I concluded to resign
my agency in our State Freedmen*s Aid Commission and
w^ork under the auspices of American Missionary Associa-
tion of the middle division. I secured trans|K)rtation from
General O. O. Howard to Atlanta, Georgia, and again left
my dear ones at home for that field. I spent a few days
with my dear friends, Levi and Catharine Coffin, at Cin-
cinnati. As the secretary, brother Cravath, was on an
investigating tour in the South, Levi Coffin proposed that I
should go to work over the river, in Covington and Newport,
Kentucky, as there were a few thousand freedmen congre-
gated in those towns. He introduced me to a lieutenant,
in whose charge the frecdmen's department was left, who
took me to a number of barracks, where the sick and suf-
fering were occupying bunks with a bed sack that had,
when possible, been filled with hay, leaves, or husks.
One poor woman had nothing in her sack, and that
was all she had for her bed, aside from an old condemned
blanket. She was suffering intensely with rheumatism.
Her limbs and hands were all drawn out of shape, thus
disabling her from dressing herself. I purchased some hay
immediately and had her moved so as to have her bed-sack
filled, and then furnished her with a warm quilt I procured
quantity of thick red flannel and made her a long-sleeved
garment to reach over her feet, and made it before I slept.
The next morning I took it to her and saw it on her. Tlie
poor woman could say nothing for weeping, but after com-
manding her feelings, she said, '^This is more than I de-
MISSION WORK. 436
serve. All the sufferin' I's had all the year is nothin'
compared to the sufferin' of my Jesus for poor me." The
colored woman who had the care of her said she never had
seen such patience in all her life. The next day I took
her another flannel garment, and relieved many others
during the month I spent in this field.
Our lieutenant was an excellent man. One day he
wbhed me to go with him to see his old building that he
had ordered fitted up for a school for three hundred freeil
children in that part of his district. But he found that
nothing had been done. " Upon my word," he exclaimed,
'' not a stroke, not a stone, not a window. O, I can 't stand
this red tape; I just want to leave every other duty and
pitch into this bouse. I know I am too impulsive, but
that is the way of an Irishman. I have often thought
Peter was an Irishman, he was so impulsive."
I spent the greater portion of New-year's day, 1867,
in calling upon twelve families and taking to the sick and
aged ones, blankets and clothing. I walked nearly a mile
to the ferry, and called at the mission-rooms, where I found
the secretary, E. M. Cravath, just returned trom his South-
em tour. He thought my work was most needed in Mem-
phis, Tennessee. I received from him my commission for
that field. I met in his office Rev. A. Scofield and daugh-
ter, just driven from Camp Nelson, by returned secession-
ists. After a very busy New-year's day, I returned to Levi
Coffin's for the night, and the next day left for Memphis^
which I reached on the 6th, spending two days in Cairo.
In the evening I attended a large colored church, and
at the close of the service introduced my work. The meet-
ing, as usual, was very demonstrative. The home assigned
me was a Mission Home, with thirteen teachers, Joseph
Bamum, formerly of Ol>erlin, Ohio, being 8uperint<»ndent.
It was a rich treat to meet several who had been co-workers
in the field of clashing arms and roar of cannonading. Bu^
few can realize the strength of the tie that binds those w^
436 A woman's i^ife-work.
have labored together in the lion's den. One of the teach-
ers being sick, at the request of the superintendent I tem-
porarily took her place.
On my way to school, one morning, I was conducted to
the place where lay twelve dead bodies till the third day
after the terrible riot which occurred a few months previ-
ously. One of the bodies was half burned. I w&s shown
another corner of the streets where lay six bodies more at
the same time. O what horrible scenes were enacted then.
My conductor pointed to a charred spot of earfh where
had stood a cabin in which lay a very sick woman, whose
daughter of sixteen years stood in the door pleading with
the infuriated mob not to burn their house for her mother
was near dying, and it was impossible for her to carry her
out One fiend caught her up on his bayonet and tossed
her into the midst of the flames of an adjoining cabin. In
a moment her screams of agony were hushed by the crack-
ling flames. Fire was then thrown into the dying woman's
cabin, and both mother and daughter perished. Their
charred bodies were taken out by their friends and buried
with others slaughtered in the riot of May, 1866. In that
riot there were forty-six negroes killed, seventy-five wounded,
five rapes were committed, ten persons maltreated, and one
hundred robbed, and ninety-one houses and cabins burned,
besides four churches and twelve school-houses reduced to
ashes. These facts were given me by white witnesses as well
as colored, and they probably may be found on General
Kiddoo's military record, as he was one of the ofiScers with
armed soldiers who quelled the terrible riot I was soon
relieved of school duty, and as I received a few boxes of
goods, a portion of which were firom England, I found
constant employment in the ever-varying mission work.
The grandmother of a little girl who had died a few
days before was very sick and in great distress of mind
"\'hen I entered her cabin, she said imploringly, **0, missus,
> pray for poor me. Can Grod forgive sich an ole sinner as
FEAR OF RIOT. 437
mc? Can I fin* Jesus so quick as poor Mary Jane did afore
she died? I knows she went so happy; I prayed all night,
but 'pears like so dark; do n*t see de place o' de candle." I
read to her of the readiness of Jesus to forgive, and how
he forgave the thief on the cross, because he repented and
looked to Jesus in faith even in his last moments. As I
knelt by her cot I implored unbounded mercy in the
Spirit's teachiug this precious soul the way to enter in
through the door. I left her more calm. She lingered a
few days, but her mind became clear from the shadow of
a cloud. She died in the triumphs of faith, leaving, she
said, her little lambs with the dear Shepherd, ''Dat hunted
de lost sheep an' foun' her 'mid de wolves, dat scratch her
mightily." The children were taken to the orphanage.
While pursuing this work our lives w^re daily threatr
enedy and some had fears of another riot One Union
woman on our block told me that she had often spent
sleepless nights on our account. She had heard such fre-
quent threats that '^Nigger teachers should be cleared out,
as well as free niggers," that she expected every day would
be our last, and every pistol shot she heard in the night,
or the alarn^of fire, she listened and looked in the direc-
tion of oiur Mission House. But I told her I did not
believe we should have another riot; I believed the God
of Daniel was able and willing to protect us, and that in
him was my confidence.
''But you don't know these people as I do," she said,
''for I have always lived here. I have sometimes thought
I would not tell you. And then I made up my mind that
I would, so you could be more on your guard; because
they threatened, just as they do now, before that awful riot
a few months ago."
The teachers who were my room-mates said they had
beard of the same threats, but there were soldiers near at
hand now, and when the riot broke out there were so few
here they had to be called from other points to quell it.
438 A W<)MAN*8 MPR-WORIC.
On April 13th I visited the sick an<l relieve^l eight
fiimilies. Then I went over o]<l Fort Pickering and through
the freedmen's hospital, containing one hundred and eighty-
eight inmates, four of them cripples, and fifteen very old.
Of one I inquired how old she was:
''I's goin' on two hundred," she answered. ^'Massa's
hook say Ts one hundred aud eight, an' dat is eight years
for another hundred, ain't it? Dey name me Esther Jane.
I was sole at sheriiTs sale for debt to Massa Sparks. In
de ole war Massa George Washington was a mighty kind
man. He boarded wid Massa Sparks four or five weeks.
He wore short breeches an' knee-buckles an' a cocked hat.
I kep' his room clar'd up."
She was not as blind as a number who were much
youuger. But*her skin was full of fine as well as deep
wrinkles, and of an ashen hue. I gave a litte sugar and
some crackers to many of them.
I returned to find a colored man who had been directed
to me. He had made his escape the night before from his
old master, who seemed to have no more idea of his leav-
ing him than if there had been no proclamation of free-
dom. His wife had been sick a long time, and he stayed to
take care of her till she died, then he watched an oppor-
tunity to bring his two little children with him. But his
master he supposed was also watching, for he soon over-
took lihn with help and took his children away from him,
aud his bundle of clothes that he was going to put on
when he got far enough from the house to feel safe with
his children. He said it was his best suit. The shirt aud
drawers he had on were good, and they constituted his
entire wardrobe. I laid out a number of garments, and
told him to go into the store-room and select a whole suit
that would best fit him. Tlie next thing to be done was
to accompany him to Colonel Palmer's office, where he told
his own pitiful story, aud the colonel asked him if he
uld take care of his children if he got them.
UNCLE PHI HP. 4r39
"If you'll be so good as to help me get them, these
bauds/' (holding them out toward the colonel) "shall take
as good care of them as they do of me," and his eyes filled
with tears. I left him with the colonel, who told him he
would send with him an escort of soldiers the next morn-
ing, "and the master will not dare refuse to give up the
childreu on reading the note I shall send him."
A little excitement existed over the murder of Mr.
Errickson, a Union man, who fled to Memphis with his
family for safety during the war. A few weeks before
the present time, he returned to his home in Summerville.
He had been home but a few days before he was shot dead
in front of a store. His poor wife and two daughters were
almost insane over his untimely death. He thought the
country was becoming more quiet, and he could risk going
quietly to their home. There was a very smart colored
woman in town who witnessed his murder. She was at
Memphis ostensibly to do a little trading; but her errand
was to inquire of the real friends of the colored people
which man they had better vote for — Parson Brownlow or
the conservative candidate — ^for governor. The men did
not dare to come, for fear they would be mistrusted ; and
she came to learn ^ from Union men their choice for gov-
ernor, to take back word, and report at Summerville.
I was one day passing the old barracks of soldiers,
then occupied by freedmen. I heard distressing groans,
and called to see whence they came. I found an old man
of ninety -seven years, called " Uncle Philip," in great
bodily distress. " How long have you been suffering like
this?" I inquired.
" Only two years," he said.
" Two years must seem a great while."
" O no, it 's only a little minute, compared with eter-
nity of rest in glorious mansions Jesus went to prepare for
me; for I knows I 's got a home thar', missus, I knows it,
'case I 's seen it, an' I feels it."
440 A woman's life-work.
** How long have you felt this evidence?"
'* I seen it d'ar as sunshine when I was ten year ole.
My massa was a mighty wickecl, swearin', cruel man. Au'
his overseer was a mighty big wicked black man ; his name
was Munday. An' all the seventy-five grown ban's on the
plantation was mighty wicked too. I hear so much swearin'
I had a bad ide' of God and Jesus; I reckon'd they's some
great men, that sent people to a mighty bad place. One
day a Methodis' minister stop to I^Iassa Malachi*s for din-
ner. When he lef massa call mc to bring his boss to 'im.
An' de preacher put his ban' on my head an' say, * Philip
is a smart little boy. An' if you '11 ask God to make you
good he '11 do it. Then when you die you '11 go to that
great, beautiful city up yonder, where it's all light and
beautiful. Here little Philip has to go 'round among stubs
and stones, barefoot ; there he 'II walk the golden streets in
silver slippers. Here he wears his slip; there he'll be
dressed in a beautiful white robe. Here he goes bare-
headed ; there he '11 wear a beautiful crown, all glittering
^vith stars. Would n't you like to go to such a beautiful
city as that when you die?' 'Yes, sir,' I say. 'Well, ask
God to make you good, and that will be your home; for
Jesus loves little children.' An* he jump'd on his boss and
rode away, while I stood thar, wonderin' what sort of a man
that could be, that knew so much 'bout God and heaven.
Now I must fin' God, to ask 'im to make me good ; an'
Tom this man's 'scription, he must be settin' on some
cloud. Day and night I watch for 'im ; an' when I looked
upon the stars I wondered if these sparklin' stars was what
God put in de crowns he put on de heads of all good peo-
ple an' good chillen.
'* One day Aunt MlUa, the cook, sent me to pick up
an armful of wood for her. While I stood lookin' up to
de clouds, bun tin' for God, I hear a sweet soft voice say,
* Chile, pray.' I look all 'mong de tree-tops, to see who's
^, an' it say, 'Chile, pray,' again. An' I was sure
UNCI^E PHIl/S STORY. 441
somebody up in de tree-tope, an* I got scared, au' drop luy
armful of wood, an' run to Aunt Milla, all out o' bref.
'What ails you, Phil? What's the matter?' she said.
* Somebody 's in de tree -tops, an* say, "Chile, pray.*"
* Hush, chile,* Aunt Milla said, ' dat *8 God talkin to you.'
* No 't ain*t. I 's been huntin* for God a good many days,
an* can't fin* im.' 'Honey, you can't see God wid de
eyes you sees Aunt Milla. GK)d is a great good spirit dat
knows all 'bout what you want, an* what you *re thinkiu*
'bout I wish I was a Christian, but I ain't I 's hearn
Christians talk, an' I knows dat God's talkin' to you,
honey. Now, you go by yourse'f, alone like, an' ask God
to make you good, as you say you want to, an' he *U do
it, sure.'
'' Here was a new thought, dat I could fin' God, an'
not see 'im. But I did as Aunt Milla tole me. It 'peared
like I must fin' God. My heart ached like, all thro' me,
I's so anxious. Only a few days after I was totin' an
armful o' plates to the dinin'-room for Aunt Milla. All at
once I 's so happy I did n*t know myse*f. * I drop my
plates, an* broke I do n*t know how many. But I did n't
stop for plates; I shouted, 'Bless Massa Jesus! Glory I
Glory hallelujah to God I I 's fouu' 'im; I knows it's God.'
I got hold of my papa and mamma, an' tole 'em to ask
God to make 'em good, an' he'd do it; an* took hold of
my little mate July, 'bout my age, an' tole 'im he mus'
pray, an' I 'd pray for 'im. In a few days he got ligion
too. An' two young white ladies, Massa Malachi's nieces,
lived thar', an' learned us to sing the sweet hymn :
" * My Savior, my Almighty Friend,
When I begin thy praise,
Where shall the growing numbers end,
The numbers of thy grace?'
An' I tole July we'd have prayer-meetin's in our cabin
of nights, an' de ole folks gathered 'round us, an' our cabin
was full. Massa Maiachi Murphy was angry 'bout
442 A WOMAN'S LIFE-WORK.
sometimes he'd scold, sometimes make fuu o' me, an'
call me de * big preacher, Howlin' Phil.' But as all dat
did u't put me down, he call me to 'im an' say, ' You
shall stop this prayin' an' singiu' in your cabin, or I'll
whip you to death,' an' he swore I was ruiniu' his planta-
tion. My papa an' mamma tried to get me to stop. They
said, ' You know Massa Malachi will do jus' as he say.'
' O DO, I can 't stop prayin' to Jesus, he *s so good to poor
me. I can't stop prayin', I said. But we did stop our
prayer-mee tin's in our cabin, but we had our night meetin's
in a deep ravine over a quarter of a mile away. Forty or
fifty of our fellow slaves would meet us thar to hear us
pray an' sing. At las' massa set de overseer, Munday, to
watch us, an' he found us out. He ordered Munday to
bring July an' me to 'im afore sun up. When we come in
sight of de yard we seen two ropes hangin' to a big tree
limb, an' I stop an' look to July, an' to de woods, w^id a
half a min' to run. But July says, * We knows we can 't
stop prayin', an' we knows what we '11 take jus' as well firs'
as las'.' Then I was 'shamed to think I was firs' in de
cause, an' July stronger 'n me. An' we went through de
gate an' stood afore massa, settin' in de back door in his
night shirt. He began to swear we was ruinin' his whole
plantation, an' now he was goin' to have us whipped to
death. * Now you see you 've got to die or stop prayin';
vill you stop this d — d prayin'?' * O massa, do please let
me pray to God, do please.' * Strip off your slip, tie 'im up
thar, Mun, an' give 'im a full round.' It was done accordin'
to order ; twenty lashes with the bull whip, an' twenty
strokes with the paddle. Turning to July, he said, *Will
you stop prayin' or die ?' * Massa, do please let me pray to
God,' said July. AVith an oath, he was bidden to take off
his slip, an' tied to the other rope with a rail at the lower
end, nearly touching the ground. The paddle was an inch
board four inches wide, three or four feet long, whittled at
^e end for the handle, having six or eight inches bored
UNCIiE PHIL^S STORY. 443
full of holes, each hole drawing a blister at every stroke.
The full round was given to July as ordered, twenty lashes
with the bull whip and twenty strokes with the paddle.
AVith an oath he turned again to me, ' Now, have you got
enough to stop your praying or will the devil die?* *0
roassa, do please let me pray to God, he is so good,' I an-
swered. ' Mun, give 'im another full round,' and twenty
lashes with the whip, and twenty strokes with the paddle
was again given. Again he queried July, who gave the
same reply as before, and the full round was ordered and
given again. Then he ordered him to be cut down, swear-
ing that he would whip him to death the next time he
heard of his praying. But he swore he 'd have the little
devil, Phil., whipped to death now, as he was first in this
'devilish' praying. As I expected to die, I prayed all
through this terrible ordeal that Jesus would come near to
help me endure it, in his name.
*^ I felt him like he was by my side," continued Uncle
Philip, as the tears dropped thick and fast, often stopping
a moment to find utterance. ^'IVIassa bid July go home
an' behave, an' he order* de overseer to give me another
round unless I 'd promise to stop prayiu'. But it 'pcared
like I felt stronger in de Lo'd, an' I give de same answer,
and I can't tell how long I was whipped an' paddled, for
when I cum to, I was cut down, and lay in' in de blood on
de groun' — ^I fiiinted away. Massa was lookin' at me thar
in his night shirt ; I see him as cl'ar as if 't was done yes-
terday. He swore I should never cum in his sight again, or
cum inside dat gate, pointing to it. I prayed in my heart
for God to give me strength to git up and walk to do
quarters, for the pain an' loss of blood made me so weak
an' fiiiut. But de good Lo'd was thar, an' I presently got
strong enough to get up an' took my slip in ban', an' stag-
gered out dat yard, and cum up to July. He stop on de
way to see if I was 'live. When we pass de quarters all
along, de old men an' women stood at their doors cryir
444 A woman's life-work.
Whcu we got out o' sight of de great house, one ole nian
an' 'oman called us to 'em an' oiled our backs. Da said
we was all cut up to a jelly, an' put soft doth over de
gashes. Our people tried harder 'n ever to stop our prajin'
an' singin', caze Massa Malachi sure to kill us.
''A few days after massa sent for me, an' I 'spected
he'd finish me dis time sure. But I felt Jesus was close
by me; I was weak in de body, but strong in de Lo'd. I
obeyed, as I stood all trimbly afore 'im. 'Well, howlin'
preacher, if you are boun' to preach you shall preach,' an'
he swore I should have enough of it. ' Next Sunday, at
eleven o'clock you shall preach; I'm going to invite all the
white folks an' black people ^r(5und here to cum to hear de
big preacher. I'm going to have a pulpit built under that
big tree' (pointing to one in the yard two rods from the
one the ropes were tied to when we was whipped). *Now
we'll have a big meetin' to hear de big preacher. You
understan', do you ?' ' Yes, massa,' I say, an' he sent me
away. I tol' July what massa said. 'Now we mus' pray to
God to sen' a minister, an' pray God to soften massa's
heart, to let 'im preach, for you knows Massa Malachi
will do jus' as he says he will, an' God will answer our
prayer.' At nights I went to one plantation an' July
went to another, an' we tried to git some Christian man
or some Christian woman to promise to preach if massa
would consent But not one would promise. They all
knew it was just for sport Sunday morning came with a
great parade of hauling boards, an' a pulpit was built"
Uncle Philip said it looked more terrifying to him
than would a gallows if built for his own hanging. People
gathered from all directions, both white and colored, and
filled the whole yard. The hour of eleven brought the
master to the door in his arm-chair, with his family Bible
in his lap. Taking his watch from his pockets, he called
out, ** Come on, my big preacher."
**I obeyed the command," said Uncle Philip, "as I
UNCLE Phil's story. 446
stood afore 'im. 'Now we are to hear this howling
preacher/ he said, sneeringly, 'and you can't preach with-
out the Bible, an' I'll hold it wide open, an' you must look
right at me when you preach. The time is up; go to
your pulpit' I asked July if he would go up with me and
help me sing —
" 'My Savior, my Almighty Friend.'
Nodding an assent, we went on. It 'peared like I was too
weak to go up four or five steps. I trimbled an' sweat
all over. But once I was up my strength cum to me, and
we sung so loud de people say da hear eVry word all over
dat great yard. By de time we got to de las' line of third
verse de people was cryin' for mercy an' down on dair
knees crying, 'Lo'd, what shall I do to be saved^ 'Lo'd
have mercy on me, a sinner!' 'Be merciful to poor me, or
I'm lost." These cries we hear^n from every side. I never
felt happier or bolder in my life, while tears of joy ran
down as I faced my ole massa. He slam de door shut, an'
da said he jumped between two feather-beds to keep from
hearin' de cries of de people. I tell you, honey, de Lo'd
made dat hymn my sin-killer on dat blessed day, long,
long to be 'membered."
"And did you preach?" I asked.
"Preach, chile; de Lo'd did all de preachin' dat day.
We finish' de hymn, an' we went down an' talked an'
prayed wid de seekers, an' we staid dar all night, an' afore
next mornin' twenty-three was converted an' praisin' God.
Massa call for me, an' I 'spected my time cum now any-
how. But I was ready for death or life. I went without
fear of any thing. He looked at me as mile as a lamb, an'
said, 'Phil, my boy, you may preach, pray, or sing as
much as you please, an' go where you please, an' you shall
never be hit another lick as long as I live.' I bowed low
an' said, 'Tlianky, Massa Malachi; God bless you, masaac'
I praised God as I turned away from him who had caur
me so much sufierin'.
446 A woman\s life-work.
•
'* But God turned it into a great blessin'. He dismissed
his overseer, an' never 'lowed one of his slaves to be pun-
ish' after that great day. In one year seventy-three ou
dat plantation was converted. Two nieces of massa's was
'mong 'em, besides a few other white folks. But Massa
Malachi tried to git 'em to give up 'ligion, an' sent 'em to
dancin' frolics. An' da come to me for advice as if I was
deir brover. I tole em Massa Malachi took keer of 'em,
'caze day was orphans, an' de sin w^ould res' on de uncle
dat make 'em go agin deir will, and not on dem. Two
years after one of 'em got married an' moved thirty miles
away, an' she got leave of massa to let me go an' stay a
week or two at a time. At las', poor gal, she died of con-
sumption, and sent for me a month afore she died to stay
wid her, an' she oftien asked me to pray wid her. O how
happy she died, in full faith in de 'ligion she foun' on de
blessed day massa compel me to preach, little thinkin' he
was 'pointin' a meetin' for de Lo'd of hosts instead of little
Phil. But my people on other plantations often sent for
me to preach, but I never call it preachin', only ligious
talks. Da would have me help organize Churches all
'roun' thar. In four years we organized seven Churches
an' the cause prospered.
"At las' so many persecutions an' sufferin' was goin' on
I got disheartened. I began to question whether it wan't
me causin' all dis sufferin', an' I stop goin' to prayer-meet-
in' four months, an' de ministers an' Christian men an'
Christian women come to see me an' say, 'Brodder Philip,
why don't you come to meetin', as you use' to?' I tole
*em, 'caze I didn't feel like it. Said one man, 'I's
feared de devil's got hold of you.' I tole 'ira I 'spected
he 'd had hold o' me a long while, for I felt bad enough to
be his work. I tole 'im Massa Malachi made me preach,
an' God did n't have notliin' to do wid it, for he knew massa
was a wicked man."
These doubts and fears seemed to follow Uncle Philip
UNCLE Phil's story. 447
day and niglit, until, as he said, bis distress was great.
Theu he fell into au iusensible, lifeless state, in which he
lay fourteen days. Said he:
** My mother dressed me for de grave; but as my limbs
did not stiffen, Massa !Malachi sent for a doctor who placed
a glass before my face, au* moisture gaj:hered on it. He
tole 'em it was not entirely cole over de heart, au* da
mus'n't bury me until decomposition took place, caze it
might be a trance. An' da kep' me in de kitchen wi<l
Aunt Milla, de cook, to watch me. It *i>eared like Is
goin' down into a horrible place of awful soun's an* rattlin*
of chains ; an' I prayed mightily for help, an* Jesus reached
down an* took my ban' an' lifted me up to a glorious palace
so beautiful, an' every thing was light. Stejis seemed built
out of light, somehow made into sub'sance; I can 't 'escribe
it. My guide tole me I was wrong to doubt, when God
had been so good to me in all my hard trials. He showed
me de windows dat let light down to dis earth, an* to de
churches I helpt organize. It seemed like bein' led from
place to place into a mighty big country. When I seen
*em all dress' in pure white robes an' singin' such splendid
music, I look at myself and see how filthy an' ragged I
look, I say to my guide, * I can never go in dat company.*
* Yes you can when Jesus wash you in his blood. All you
see was as filthy an' ragged as you. But da is made clean.*
An' we crossed over a line like, an' firs' I know I 's in de
pure white robe too, an' singin' wid all dat great company.
O I can't 'escribe how happy I felt in rangin'-wid my
guide de fields of light an' sich glorious visions. At las' he
said, * You mus' go back to earth an* teach your people de
way to dis glorious home, dat is your home if you 1x5 faith-
ful in readin* dis book.' I said, ' I am a slave back thar,
an' can 't read.' *But this book you can read,' an' he laid
de open book on my outstretched lef* arm; de tip of de
golden leaves reach the tip of my fingers, an' tiie other tip
of the leaves touch my head. Ho took nie two or three
448 A woman's life-work.
little steps, an' I thought I was back to earth, an' I ask
Auut Milla for a drink as I was so thirstv. And she
said de bucket of water was on de bench, an* my little
cup by it.
*' When I cum to myse'f I was standin' by de bucket
driukiu* out o' my cup. But nobody was in de house but
Mina, a little gal *bout eight year ole, massa bought out
of a drove was passiu* by de kitchen door, and run to the
fiel' shoutin* all de way 'PhiFs alive! Phil's alive!' An'
all de ban's on de plantation cum runnin' to de house,
an' my mother caught me firs', ' Praise God, my chile's
alive.' De firs' 1 said, * I 'a been wrong to doubt God ;
I never, never will doubt him any more.' I never can,
for I's had a glimpse of hell, and have been in dat beau-
tiful world of light."
I have given Uncle Philip's narrative in his own lan-
guage as I took it down in my note-book at the time of my
interviews with him. His was indeed a green old age ; his
mind remarkably clear, and his memory retentive. From
time to time, as I read a chapter or a psalm, he often
referred to certain passages that he had dwelt upon since I
had left him. In relating his history he often shed tears;
nt one time with his elbows resting upon his knees, and
face buried in the calico 'kerchief until it was wet At
another time he was just raising himself up from the kneel-
ing ix)sition when I came in. "I's jus' bin prayin' for
you," he said. **I did 't know as you 's so near, but I felt
your spirit. It sort o' lif s me up to talk wid you. I prayed
dat de good seed you 's sowin' 'raong our ]^ple may lodge
in good groun' an' bring a hundred fol*. De men you
talked to on de bridge 'bout swearin' never '11 forgit your
words. You's doin' more for our poor, ignorant people dan
vou knows on."
He lived about a year after I left Memphis, Tennessee.
I sent him occasionally two or three dollars, through
'Superintendent Barnum or his wife, who oft^n called to see
UNCI.E PHII/S 8TORY, 449
his wants supplied. The last words he uttered were a few
lines of one of his favorite hymns, '* Give roe wings," and
his happy spirit took its flight, having faithfully read the
book he said he had always kept in his heart I was often
forcibly impressed while conversing with that aged saint.
How manifest is the power of our Wonderful, in his deal-
ing with his followers, just according to their needs. That
poor ignorant man could not read the written Word, but
God took his own way to lead and instruct him, to fit him
for an instrument in his hand of turning many souls to the
knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.
On May 11, 1867, I took the cars for home. Having
instructions from the American Missionary Association and
transportation, I took fifteen homeless orphans to our asy-
lum in my former school. Raisin Institute. I left this field
of arduous toiling, often passing the former residence of
John P. and Thomas K. (/hester, who had so often threat-
ened my life. Both closed their earthly career by untimely
deaths. I reached home on the 14th, praising the God of
Daniel for his keeping power in the lion's den.
38
450 A woman's life-work.
Chapter XVL
CHRISTIAN LABOR AND RESULTS.
It seemed refreshing to meet with sympathizing friends
after toiling for months among false brethren. It was a
relief to enjoy a few days of freedom from care. After
asking a few friends to sign an article of agreement to pay
one dollar a year during five years for the orphan asylum,
and mailing a couple of letters to Levi CSoffin and Bev. £.
M. Cravath, of Cincinnati, I took from the office a drop-
letter from Mr. Burton Kent, County Superintendent of
the Poor, containing the following notice:
''Mbs. Laura S. Haviland, — Many persons trans-
ported by you last year have become a county charge, and
it has become an intolerable burden to the tax-payers.
Any person bringing a child or indigent person into this
county without being legally indentured, shall be prose-
cuted to the full extent of the law."
Within five minutes after reading the above notice I
was on my way to our County Poor-house, three miles
from town. To my surprise I found that no colored child
had been there, and of the fifty-one inmates but three were
colored, and only one man (Mr. Morris Brown) who came
with me the previous Summer had been received. He
was discharged in a short time. A stay at the infirmary
for two months and a half was a burden, but was it ''intol-
erable to the tax-payers'* of our county?
I felt that I must search diligently to discover all the
facts. I called on Mr. Helms, who said there was a widow
with four or five children that was sick a couple of weeks,
and he had supplied her with a load of wood and grocer-
ies. I asked for the cost, but as it was not convenient for
ORPHAN ASYLUM. 451
him to give the figures then, he said he would furnish
them the following Tuesday. Mr. Young had told him
that he had buried a femUy. I called to learn what &mUy
it was in his ward. He gave the name of the man who
died after a short illness, and to whom he had taken a
load of wood, a small sack of flour, and some other grocer-
ies. I inquired if. he had taken these things to them more
than once. He said he had not, as his wife was all there
was to look after, and she took care of herself after her
husband's death. He gave me the expenses — eight dollars
and ninety-eix cents. I called on Mr. Helms at three ap-
pointed times, and failed to get his precise figures, but,
placing them at highest rates, from all I could gather
it could not have been more than thirty-five dollars. I
wrote an article for the Adrian Times, in which I stated
the figures, and informed the citizens and tax-payers of
Lenawee County that this orphan asylum was under the
auspices of the American Missionary Association, which
was responsible for its support I solicited some mathe-
matician to give us the fraction of a mill to each tax-
payer as his share of this ''intolerable burden upon the
tax-payers."
Our county superintendents of the poor, Burton Kent
and Allen Warren, the ofidcials from whom I received the
notice, were surprised to learn that the American Mission-
ary Association was the responsible party. But all these
threats sprang from prejudiced parties, and clearly indi-
cated the necessity of a few strokes of the reconstruction
brush north of Mason and Dixon's* line, as well as south
of it, to obliterate, the color-line. Friends here and there
paid me a dollar on their pledge of a dollar a year, and
our colored friends in the city of Adrian — Sarah Lewis,
with her brothers and Mr. Wilson, managers of a festival —
realized thirty-two dollars and sixty-one cents, cash, and
fifty pounds of meat, beans, fruit and clothing, valued at
fifty dollars.
452 A WOMAN^8 LIFE-WORK.
July the Fourth was a merry day for the forty little
folks at the asylum. At dark fire-crackers, torpedoes and
Bky-roekets flew in every direction for an hour, when all
were arranged in a semicircle and sang '* John Brown,"
" Red White and Blue," ** RaUy 'Bound the Flag, Boys,"
and a few temperance songs, in great glee. It was a
happy group. We had a few visitors, who left us the hap-
pier for seeing the children and listening to their sweet
voices in song.
I was often engaged in procuring good homes for these
orphans. A few homes were found that were not suita-
ble, and the children were withdrawn and placed in other
homes.
On September 19th I met Mrs. Edgerton, the matron of
our asylum, with T. D. Allen, of Kalamazoo, agent under
J. R. Shipherd, secretary of the American Missionary
Association, who were authorized to build a school-room for
the asylum. Heretofore the children's play-room had been
used for the school during the warm season. As the
American Missionary Association was doing a great work
in the late slave States in maintaining fireedmen's schools,
the officers concluded to solicit aid in the State of Mich-
igan for the building of the much needed school-room.
They urged me to engage in this work, but I thought that
I had done my share, in giving the time I had to solicit-
ing money for the purchase of supplies. Elizabeth L.
Comstock, having received one thousand dollars, appro-
priated it to enlarge the little farm to thirty-five acren,
buy a horse, and furnish the little folks with hats, etc
Then I wanted to look for a home, as I was becoming
rather weary of singing the old song,
** No foot of land do I possess,
No cottage in this wilderness."
This had been my condition for nearly throe years; but
with all my pleading, I failed to be released. As it was
already cooler weather, and Winter would soon overtake us.
RAILROAD OFFICIALS. 463
T. D. Allen said I had worked long enough without re-
ward, save that of blessing these little homeless waifs, and
now, if I would take hold of this enterprise, I should be
paid the same amount he was receiving.
At length I agreed to spend a week or two at least,
and took from him the bill of all the kinds of lumber
needed, and left for Detroit Judge F. C. Beaman fur-
nished me with a letter of introduction, indorsed by Bev.
Dr. George Duffield, of Detroit. I called, as he advised,
on Samuel Pitts, who Bubscribed one hundred dollars in
lumber. I selected out of my bill what was first called
for to enable the carpenters ali^eady engaged to commence
their work. I then called on Mr. Cooper, freight agent, to
secure, if possible, free transportation to Adrian; to him I
gave my introductory letter. When he glanced at the
beading, without reading it, he gave it a toss on his table
toward me, with a look of disgust, saying, ''I've seen that
thing before, and I 've nothing to do with it"
" That IB a mistake," said I ; '' that paper is from F. C.
Beaman, and not a week old."
'' If I 'm not very much mistaken I 've seen it before." -
" Well, you are very much mistaken, for I brought it
to this city with me yesterday, and I have not been in
your office untQ this minute. But I am not soliciting
money. I only called to see if I can secure free transpor-
tation for one hundred dollars' worth of lumber to Adrian
for an orphan school-room, as forty little homeless waifs,
under our care, have no school-room, except a wood-house
and play-room. The cold weather will soon overtake us."
He listened patiently to my short speech, and said he
had no authority to grant such a favor ; that I would have
to write to C. H. Hatch, then in Chicago.
''I know he would grant it," I said, ''for he granted
this quarter pass on his road for my mission work," show-
ing the pass.
He turned it over and spent double the time in exam-
454 A woman's life-work.
ining it that lie did on my introductory letter, and said,
slowly, ''I think I ^ill risk sending this car-load," and
wrote an order to his assistant to send it forthwith to
Adrian.
I thankfully returned to my duty of calling on the list
of the benevolently inclined wealthy persons whose names
Dr. Duffield and J. F. Conover had furnished. Bev. Dr.
Hearth, Mr. Raymond, the book-merchant, and Bey. Dr.
Duffield gave sufficient to pay the cartage of the lumber
to the depot Soon it was on its way. I dined at Moses
Sutton's, who gave $5, and his sister Annie $1. Mr.
Brooks gave me $25 in lumber. Mr. Bronson gave five
thousand shingles; another gave $2.50 in shingles.
After a few days at home I returned, October 25th, to
Detroit, and toiled, like the fishermen, nearly all day, and
caught nothing. Weary, and almost discouraged, I was
about to retire to my resting-place at Augustus L^gett's,
when one gave $5, another $2. The following day I called
on C. Merrill, who gave $5 ; another gave $5 ; Mr. B. C.
Bemick gave $10; Mr. Whitney gave $5. Weariness
coaxed me to another sweet resting-place, the home of mj^
dear friends J. F. and Hannah Conover. I called on a
few persons whose names had been given me by Mr. Pal-
mer, from whom I received $17 ; and from a few others I
received $15. John Bagley gave $10; another gave $5;
Bev. J. A. Baughman, $5 ; and Mr. King, his son-in-law,
$5. I also called on Grovemor Crapo, who gave $5. Oth-
ers gave $5, $2, and $1, until I had forty dollars more to
aid in constructing our school-room.
We secured sufficient means to build our school-room.
In all, with the &vors granted by the Michigan Southern
and Lake Shore Bailroad, we received about four hun-
dred dollars.
Through the kindness of my friend, L. Tabor, Esq.,
who purchased a house and small lot for me, I again had
a place for my children to occupy, which I could call my
MISSION WOBE NEEDED. 455
home; for which I praised the Lord, from whom all
blessiogs flow.
As our orphan asylum was now in a good condition,
Mrs. Edgerton, the matron, said the secretaries of the
three divisions of the Missionary Association, Chicago,
Cincinnati, and New York, met and voted her one hun-
dred dollars a month, with which to carry forward this
asylum. She deemed this an ample supply, with what had
been raised on the place. She said it was then on a more
substantial basis than it had been during the year she had
had it in charge.
Through General O. 0. Howard I learned that mission
work was much needed in Charleston, South Carolina, and
received from him transportation to that city by way of
Washington, District of Columbia. • -
My health being now restored, on January 29, 1869, I
left my sweet home and loved ones at three o'clock P.
M., and spent the night in Toledo, with my old friends,
William Merritt and wife. I attended with them the
prayer-meeting in the new colored church. I arrived at
Pittsburg with but little detention. Passing through the
mountains, we found the snow deeper than when I left
Michigan. At seven A. M. we passed the wreck of three
cars which had run off the embankment and were still
burning. Among the killed taken from the wreck was a
woman partially burnt. I did not learn the number of
killed and injured. Among these dead and dying I should
probably have been had I not spent the night in Toledo,
as this was the train I would have been on had I remained
on the one I left. O, how sad to look upon this smolder-
ing wreck, from which I had so narrowly escaped! This
was the third accident of this kind which I had thus prov-
identially missed in my travels by river and rail of three
thousand miles. Many are the dangers, seen and unseen,
through which I have passed, and the remembrance of
this disaster calls forth a renewed song of deliverance and
456 A woman's life-work.
praifle for the GuidiDg Hand that {Nreflenrea through the
Ticiwitudes of this ever-changiog life.
I arrived in Washington early in the mcNming, and took
breakfiist with mj friend Dr. Olenan. Here I found my
brother, Harvey Smith, and his son, who were teaching
freedmen's schook, and with them I spent the Sabbath.
In the evening I attended the Colored Methodist Episcopal
Church, and was invited to address the large meeting. I
spoke half an hour, and told the history of Unde Philip,
and how, amidst the persecutions and sorrows to which his
slave-life subjected him, he had kept his hand in the hand
of his Savior all these ninety-seven years.
While speaking of his being whipped until he fitinted,
a few wept aloud, and after meeting a number came to tell
rae of their being whipped for prajring. One woman was
whipped until she fainted, and one man was kept in the
stocks all night after being whipped, and came near dying.
His master told him he *' would whip the praying devil
out of him," using the same words that Uncle Philip's
master used to him.
The surgeon-in-chief, Dr. Beybum, wished me to re<
main in Washington another day, and thought General
Howard would permit me to stay there for a time, to
engage in sanitary work. I had an interview with the
general, who thought I was most needed in Washington,
during the Winter season at least He gave me authority
to visit the free soup-houses, and investigate the sanitary
work generally. Aft;er reading my commission, I told him
I had a request to make, and that was that the authority
with which I was vested, might be kept secret. To inves^
tigate to the best advantage was my object I was also
appointed to examine, as far as practicable, the condition of
applicants for charity, and the manner in which the charity
was applied. My office was furnished, and board was
allowed me at the head-quarters of the frcedmen's hospital
^ Campbell Camp.
SOUP-HOUSES. 467
On February 6th I called at Josephine Griffitfs relief
office before 10 o'clock A, M. Between sixty and seventy
persons called on her, mostly for work. I followed a num-
ber of the applicants for soup-tickets to their homes. In
visiting twenty families during the day, I found a num1)er
of persons in squalid wretchedness. One man was very
sick with a high fever, and unconscious. He had received
no help, because unable to make personal application, and
be had no family to intercede for him. His bed was a pile
of rags in the comer on the floor. I called for the Bureau
physician and saw that he had suitable bed-clothing and
food. The physician said he must have died within two
or three days in that condition. Among the applicants for
relief was an Irish woman, who had a brick house she was
renting, except the back room, which she occupied, and had
another nearly finished. She and her family for whom she
was begging soup, lived in good style.
The fourth day of my investigations revealed great de-
ficiency in properly looking after applicants for aid. The
greatest sufierera were often .too diffident to ask for help.
The soup-houses were generally well managed. I called as
one whom curiosity had drawn into the motley crowd, and
was treated to a taste of fine soup, even at the ** Savage
Soup-house," where I saw two caldrons of soup. The one
from which I was served might well tempt the palate of
an epicure, but the other looked too forbidding for a
human stomach. I soon found the good soup was being
given to the white applicants, who were first served, while
the colored people, standing in the yard, were waiting their
time. Policeman Boss told a shivering colored man to go
inside and put his pail on the farther block for soup.
"I shall be sent out," he replied.
"Itellyoutogoin,''said the policeman ; "111 see to that"
He obeyed the order, only to receive curses: "You
know better than to come yet; another thing you know
this soup is for white folks, the other is for niggers."
458 A woman's lilPB-WOKK.
At this, PolicemaD Ross came in: "I have seen," saivl
he, "fish made of one and flesh of another long enough.
Here are women and children standing out on the ice and
snow, waiting all this afternoon for you to serve the white
people first. Another thing I 'd like to know, why is this
difierence in the soup? That black stuff is hardly fit for
pigs to eat, Mr. Savage, and you know it.**-
''Our citizens furnish material for this soup," replied
he, "and our citizens shall have it."
''Doesn't General Howard furnish a hundred pounds
of beef and two hundred loaves of bread each day ? and
on Saturday it is double. Another thing I'd like to
know: are these not our citizens?" pointing toward the
yard full of colored people.
"There are ten thousand too many of 'em, and it's none
of your business; I shall do as I please." ^
"I will let you know ; I shall make it my bu^ness to
report you to General Howard."
Mr. Savage poured out a horrid volley of oaths at him,
adding that all his reporting would make no difierence
with him. One Irish woman received three loaves of
bread, four quarts of soup, and a lai'ge piece of meat
Afler nearly all, both white and colored, were served, the
lieutenant policeman left, but Mr. Boss remained until the
end of the disbursing. I was tempted to cheer the policeman
for his bravery, but thought silence the better part of valor.l
AVhen Aunt Chloe's " d'ariu* up time" was come, I took
my departure. I saw the policeman standing near the
gate, and said in low tone, as I passed out, " I thank you
for your words."
"Stop; do you live here?" he said.
" Temporarily."
" Go slowly till I get my club, so I can catch up. I
want to see you."
He soon overtook me, and inquired whether I was one
" the visiting committee. I told him that I was author-
G£OBG£ SAVAGE. 459
ized by General Howard to inspect the soup-houses. Ho
asked whetlier I was going to report Savage. '* I am on
my way," I said, " to the general's office for that purpose."
" I will give you my name and number," he replied, **and
will run to see the lieutenant of police, who will give his
name and number for reference also; I'll overtake you by
the time vou reach Pennsylvania Avenue." And off he ran.
As I wished to inspect the poor soup more thoroughly, I
called at a cabin, the home of the poor man that the
policeman compelled to go in and demand the good soup.
I found his quart of excuse for soup on the stove to cook
the half raw bits of turnips and potatoes. I tasted of what
the pohoeman said was hardly fit for pigs, and fully agreed
with his assertion, for the man said it made them sick to eat
it without cooking it over. This man had been sick with
pneumonia, and his mother very sick with it at this time.
I hurried to the nearest grocery, where I bought crackers,
sugar, rice, bread, tea, and mustard for a plaster to put on
her side. The man had received only a slice of bread with
his quart of soup, for the seven reported in his family, four
of whom were sick.
When I reached the avenue, I met the policeman who
had nearly run himself out of breath. He was delayed in
hunting for the lieutenant, who sent word that he would
call on the general to confirm my report if necessary, and
gave his name and number. The result of the report was,
that a notice wats sent at once to Mr. Savage that there
must be no diiference in giving to the poor, either in qual-
ity or quantity at his soup-house, and that the difference
made between white and colored, as reported to him, could
not continue. In reply, Mr. Savage denied having made
any difference in his soup-house, and charged the reporter
with being an arrant liar, and he also made the same state-
ment in the Daily Chronicle,
I wrote a confirmation of my report, using his own
words in connection with the remarks of policeman Bof
460 A woman's life-work.
and took it to Dr. Beyburn, surgeon-in-chief in the sani-
tary work. The doctor approved my statement, and wrote
a few lines of preface himself. As I used Mr. Boss's
name, I called on him, who also approved, and referred to
the lieutenant of police, who was present, and both sanc-
tioned my report This was published in the Ckratdde.
At this Savage raved, and swore he would arrest me
for defamation. Neither did the policeman whose name I
used as reference go unscathed. The chief of the police
force requested Mr. Boss to see me and learn by what au-
thority I was acting, as there seemed to be none indicated
in my article in the Chrtmide. Mr. Boss said the chief of
police did not doubt my authority, but would like to know,
if I had no objection. I presented my paper, with a re-
quest that the matter should be held as confidential, as I
did not wish to make it public
After reading the paper he said: ''I think you are
authorized to inspect the work of the whole of us ; I see
in this the whole field is included. Would you object to my
taking this to the chief of police, if I bring it back within
an hour or two? We may in some cases render you
assistance."
I had no objection, and he took it I found their as-
sistance in a few cases very important, as well as conven-
ient But with all the Savage threats, nothing was done,
and not even a reference was made to the subject in either
of the papers. Surgeon Beyburn told me, as he was pass-
ing a comer where a group of secessionists were discussing
the subject quite freely, that one man said, " Why do n't
Savage do something about that soup-house aflair, and not
l>e a numb-head, and let that woman wind him around her
finger like that?" Another said, '* If I'd lied once over
that old soup-house, I 'd lie again, before I 'd hold still and
take all that" He changed his soup-house policy for a
little while; but the complaints among secession friends
-'hite customers caused him soon afterward to backslide.
DESTITUTE FAMILIES. 461
Mr. Carpenter, treasurer of the Provident Aid Society,
wrote a letter to George Savage that he thought might
improve him. But Surgeon Beyburn sent for me, and
requested me to prepare for running the Fourth Ward
soup-house, as he had heard they were going to discharge
George Savage. I called on Mr. Shepherd, the proper
authority id discharge him. He said that in a week or
two all the soup-houses would close for the season, and, as
Savage had received letters that he thought he would im-
prove by, he would release me from the task of running
the soup-house. I therefore continued visiting and reliev-
ing the sick and suffering.
I met in my rounds Dr. Cook, who said there was a
child frozen to death in Kendal Green Barracks, nearly
two miles away. Neither the doctor nor myself knew who
had charge there. I went, and found a child of ten months
old that had chilled to death. The mother said hers was
the fourth child in that row of cabins that had died ; and
that none of them were allowed more than two four-foot
sticks of fire-wood for twenty-four hours. I called at the
other cabins, and found them without fire, and all told the
same story of lack of wood and no coal. There was neither
bedding nor clothing enough among them all to make a sin-
gle family comfortable. The mother of the dead child had
been to see the superintendent of the poor of the city to
get a cofilin. With shoes but little better than none, she
had waded through melting snow until her dress was wet
four inches, at least, around the bottom. I inquired who
the superintendent of this camp and barracks was, and
they said. Major Thompson. I went to his head-quarters,
but found that he and his family had gone to the Capital
to learn how President Johnson's impeachment trial was
likely to end. I repaired to General C. H. Howard's
•fiSce, and reported the condition of these families. He
sent me back in his ambulance, with fifty loaves of l)rcad,
a coffin for the dead child, and two quilts and a f
462 A woman's life-work.
blaukets for the destitute, ^ith instructions to give the
brciid, except one loaf to each of the four families I had
visited, to Major Townseiid, a man that I had met in the
Sabbath -school he superintended. He was surprised to
find those families under his care in such a condition. The
general furthermore requested me to make a thorough in-
vestigation of Kendal Green Barracks and camp.
The following day I visited forty families, and found
twelve sick, and not sufficiently supplied. I listened to
many sad stories by a white man, who had been one of
Alajor Townsend's police guards while he had charge of
Campbell Camp, before I went to Washington. I was in-
formed that the major had charged his two police guards
to bring the woman that was interfering with his camp to
his office till he returned, if she should come again in his
al)scnce. Although they were quite cross, they did not
take me to the major's head-quarters, as I told them I was
calling by request. The major had no more idea of who
tlie intruder was than I knew who the superintendent was
until I made my report to the general, when he informed
me that it was not Thompson, but Major Townsend, to
whom I had been introduced in a colored Sabbath-schooL
But as he knew by the supplies which I took to the families
that they came from head-quarters, he called on General
Howard, and from him learned who the inspector was, and
he told the general he would aid me in calling on the poor
who needed aid. While he spent most of the day in call-
ing at my office and going to see the general, I was visit-
ing the barracks.
For sundry misdemeanors while in office the major was
relieved, and another appointed in his stead. Though I
did not think he was the right man for the place, yet I felt
sorry for his excellent family. His wife and two young
lady daughters I had called on, and was much pleased with
their self-sacrificing Christian spirit.
There was much excitement in Washington during a
FATHER D0D80N. 463
portion of May, on account of the iinpeachraent and trial
of President Johnson. At length, on the 16th of the
mouth, the news spread that he was acquitted of the
high charges made against him by the House of Sepreseutar
tiyes, and that his power was left uncurtailed. But he
had turned his back upon our brave soldiers, who bled and
died to save the nation's life, and made no serious effort
to put an end to the Kukluz outrages in the Southern
States. For this reason many demanded that he be re-
moved from his office. With them his acquittal foreboded
ill ; but we hoped for the best.
Uncle Dodson, aged sixty- five years, a plantation
preacher and a resident of Campbell Gamp, caused great
excitement when he found his long-lost wife and she found
her long-lost husband. Twenty years before the husband
and wife were torn apart by the unrelenting slave-master.
AVeeping and begging to be sold together, while kneeling
at the mastcr^s feet, they were only answered by a kick
and the lash. Now they met again. In the front yard
the wife came running to hiin crying out, '^0 Ben Dod-
son, is dis you? I am your own Betty." And she clasped
him closely. ''Glory I glory I hallalujah! Dis is my
Betty, shuah,'' he said, pushing her away to look at her
face. ''I foun' you at las'. I*s hunted an' hunted till I
track you up here, I's boun' to hunt till I fin* you if you 's
alive." And they both wept tears of joy. "Ah, Betty,
we cried harder 'n dis when da sole us apart down dar in
Egyp'." And another outburst of joy followed. They
were soon happily living together in their own little cabin.
The old man had some queer Scripture quotations. One
he recited in meeting twice before I had an opportunity of
correcting him, and that was, ''Adam called his wife's
name Eve because she was the mother of all evil." As
Uncle Dodson often wished me to read a chapter in their
chapel meetings "an' splaiu it to us," I took occasion to
read the third chapter of Genesis, and when I rei* ^
«p
464 A woman's life-work.
'* Because she was the mother of all living/' he called out
'^ebil, ebil, sistah Hablin." Uncle Dodson was learning
to read, and could read easy words in the first reader. I
placed the Bible before him and pointed to the word
''living." *'Dat is so in difl place/' he acknowledged,
" but it's some place in de Bible," " Father Dodson," I
said, ''I have read every word in this Bible a number of
times, and there is no such sentence between the two lids
that Adam called his wife's name Eve because she was the
mother of all evil," and a smile ran through the entire
congregation. I added that it was not a wonder that these
poor people should misquote Scripture, as a few months a^
many of them were not allowed to learn to read. At this
three of that company testified to being punished severely
for learning their letters of a little white boy. I told them
it was a greater wonder that they had passed through
such privations and retained as much intelligence as they
possessed. '*0 yes, well do I 'member when I was punish'
too," said another, "for tryin' to learn to read." Turning
to a young exhorter sitting by him, Uncle Dodson sud,
"Brodder Davis, I've labored in de Gospel mor'n forty
years wid de white ministers and wid de black ministers,
an' I neber foun' one so deep in de Seriptur^ as sistah Hab-
lin." We continued our exercises with good satisfaction.
Another of Father Dodson's comforting passages was,
" Blessed is the corpse that the rain &lls on«" If the de-
parted one had left no other evidence of being prepared
for the great change than a rain on the day of the funeral,
that was sufficient. I found this was quite generally ac-
cepted as a sure evidence with many of them.
As I was passing through the hospital yard a number
of the convalescents Avere in a group discussing the subject
of charity, thinking that some one had be^n too harshly
judged. Said one man, ''Paul said faith, hope, and
" "nty. An' de greates* of 'em all was char'ty. An' I
s what a bigger man nor Paul said, better man too."
HENRY WIRTZ. 465
"An* who dat, an' what he say?" rejoined another.
"He say, * Judge not an* yo shan't be judged/"
"An* who said dat?"
" T was George Washington."
On inquiry' I found his parents Uved many years m
the vicinity of Mount Vernon, and probably the colored
people heard George Washington repeat that text, and it
was handed down among them as an original saying of
the Father gf his Country, in their minds a greater and
better man than Paul.
While engaged in my work, as the weather became
very warm, I often rested an hour or two in the capitol to
listen to the many witnesses who testified to the awful
condition of our soldiers at Andersonville Prison, under
Henry Wirtz. At the statement made concerning his stab-
bing and shooting the soldiers for leaning against the "dead
line," the guilty man, Wirtz, shook as he arose from the
80& upon which he was reclining, and swore " that was a
lie;" but General Auger, the president of the court, told
him thatfAe had nothing to say, and bade him sit down,
which he did with cursing in great excitement I some-
times spent two or three hours in listening to the tale of
the heartless cruelties that unprincipled wretch had com-
mitted. One woman, whose son died in that prison, was
listening one afternoon. She stood in the corridor, and as
he passed with his guards for the ambulance, which was
to bear him back to the prison, she followed with her best
weapon, a large umbrella. This she nimbly used, thrust-
ing the pointed end into his side or back, or wherever she
could hit him, saying, "You rascal, you villain, you mur-
derer, you murdered my son in Andersonville." Her
thrusts were in such quick succession that he begged the
guards to protect him; but they did not interfere with the
bereaved woman until they got the prisoner into the
ambulance.
While I did not feel like following her example beeau'
466 A woman's life-wobk.
>of his murdering my cousin, yet I told Greneral Auger
that it was well for Henry Wirtz that his case was not
tried by mothers and sisters of the thousands who had
suffered and died under his cruelties. Said the general, ** I
do not know but it would be the best thing for him if
mothers and sisters were his judges." But if they were
the ones to give the decbion, justice and mercy would never
kiss each other over him. I never was an advocate of
capital punishment, but I must acknowledge I did feel
at times, while listening to Henry Wirte's trial, that I
would like to see that tiger in human form take a hemp
iwing. But when at last he received his sentence and
swore he "always thought the American Eagle w^as a d —
buzzard," I had no desire tq mingle with the multitude to
witness the execution, though he well deserved the exe-
cration of all.
On May 14th I received a note from Mrs. Edgertou,
stating that a peremptory order from Bev. J. R. Shipherd,
secretary of the American Missionary Association at Chicago,
had been received, to close the asylum immediately. From
her note I learned that this was the day for the auction sale
of the asylum personal property. I was confident that
forty or fifty little folks could not at once be properly sit-
uated in compliance with such an order, and wrote J. R
Shipherd a proposition, reminding him of his verbal pledge
and proposed terms on which we could reopen the asylum
for all for whom no suitable homes might be found. I
also wrote an appeal to Rev. Geo. Whipple, of the New
York Division, and sent with it a copy of the proposition
I had made to J. R. Shipherd. I received in reply a re-
quest to remit to that division the reply I should receive
from J. R. Shipherd, or a copy, by the first mail, for they
thought my proposition would be accepted. I wrote them
they should have whatever reply I might receive from J.
R. Shipherd, but I did not look for any wonl whatever
from him. In the mean time I received a letter from
ORPHANS SCATTERED. 467
Adrian informing me that four of the little children were
already in the county poor-house, and that others would
800U be taken there; that four of the younger ones were
left in the streets of Adrian to find their own homes among
colored people, and that four were left with a poor colored
family who were promised pay for keeping them until other
homes could be found. Four more were also left with a
white family in Palmyra, with the promise of pay until
other arrangements were made. One little girl of ten
years was left with a woman of ill-fame and of drinking
habits, and the little girl had been seen drunk.
I wrote to Rev. E. M. Cravath, secretary of the Middle
Division, at Cincinnati, and to Levi Coffin, and learned
in reply that eight of the little children were found one
morning sitting on the stone steps of the office of the
American Missionary Association, with a note in the hand
of the oldest, aged ten or eleven years, the purport of
which was, " These children were sent by you to the asy-
lum near Adrian, Michigan. It has closed. You must
take care of them." They said that Mrs. Edgerton brought
them from the asylum, and sent them here in the express
wagon. The office being locked, the driver left them on
the steps at 6 o'clock A. M. As they had eaten nothing
during the night, Levi Coffin furnished them with food,
while Rev. E. M. Cravath went to the colored orphan asy-
lum of the city, and made arrangements by paying the
board of managers one hundred dollars for their admit-
tance. The letter from Levi Coffin contained the follow-
ing queries: ** What ails Michigan, that she can not care
for thirty or forty of these poor little homeless orphans,
when we have had a few thousands to look after in this
great thoroughfare? Where is the Christianity and phi-
lanthropy of your great State, to send these children back
to us, who took them from those crowde<i camps, where
there was so much suffering and dying, for the purpose of
their l)eing properly trained, and fitted for usefulness, amid
468 A woman's lipj;-work.
humane surrouiKlingB?" They soon found the whys and
wherefores in my letter and appeal to allow the asylum to
be reopened.
Afler writing a number of letters to the New York
Division, containing a full account of the condition of the
children, and sending them a copy of the letter from
Adrian, I inquired whether as a Christian body they
could allow these children over whom they had assumed
control, and for whom they were responsible, to be tamed
out into the streets, to be lodged in the county poor-house,
and to be left in the house of ill-fame, and appealed to
them as Christian men to make some suitable arrangemeots
for them. Their reply was: ** We can not afford to allow
this condition of those children. We have not received a
communication in this office that has produced the deep
feeling that your last letter has. We have telegraphed
Mr. Shipherd to dispose of nothing more connected with
that asylum. How long would it be before it could be re-
opened, should we replace it in the hands of its friend ?"
I answered, *' It shall be re-opened as soon as I receive
official authority from your association to do it, and I will
resign my position in this work." In reply to this, the
Kev. Mr. Smith, a member of the New York Division,
came to Washington and authorized me to secure a part
of the asylum building, and reopen it for the children that
were in improper houses. I secured a pass by way of Cin-
cinnati, in accordance with the request of Levi Coffin and
Rev. E. M. Cravath, of the Middle Division. They had
secured good hom<es for two of the children. I took the
others home.
The secretaries and a few other members of the three
divisions met in Oberlin to consider further concerning the
asylum that had been so unwisely closed. At the close
of this consultation I received a letter from Mr. Whipple,
of New York, in which he stated that there waa much
sympathy expressed for me in behalf of the asylum by all
ASYLUM REOPENED. 469
m
except Mr. Bhipberd, ^vho said he had done nothiDg of
which I or auy oue else had auy right to complaiu. He
was ordered to return twenty-three boxes and packages of
asylum goods to me, as I was acting under their orders in
reopening the home; and they sent me fifty dollars for
supplies. I gathered in between twenty-five and thirty
children that had previously belonged to the home, and
bought back what furniture I could that had been sold at
a great sacrifice. The corporation of the reorganized asso-
ciation appointed me general superintendent of the asylum,
and engaged me to devote my whole time to it.
Although to provide means to carry it on was no small
task, yet the burden to me seemed light compared with its
importance. It had cost great anxiety and efiTort to ac-
complish what we had already done. I secure<l a horse,
repaired the buggy, and employed our soldier, Charlie
Taft, whose health was much impaired from service in the
army. He offered to spend the Winter with us, and ren-
der what assistance he could, for his board. Just now
our prospects were brighter than at any period since Baisin
Institute was converted into a home for homeless little
people, to train for useful citizens, instead of tramps, or
inmates of prisons.
But, alas ! we were doomed to a heavy draft upon our
faith. After a very busy day of measuring, cutting, and
fitting garments for the little ones, I went in haste to place
a bundle of patches in the box in the hall room. It was
now dark twilight, and I mistook the cellar door for that
of the hall. Passing through, I fell headlong seven feet
against the comer of a hard-wood beam. I received many
bruises, and the concussion fractured both the inner and
outer layers of the left temporal bone, and severed the
temporal artery. I was taken up insensible, and it was
supposed that life was extinct; but in a few moments
signs of life appeared, and a physician was immediately
sent for. Great consternation prevailed among the chil-
470 A woman's life- work.
dren, and much sympathy was expressed, as well as iiiauy
prayers offered by them in my behalf.
Brother Smart, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in Adrian, was then holding a series of meetings ; and be-
ing told of the accident at the evening meeting, he said :
'* Elder Jacokes informs me that sister Haviland is sup-
posed to be in a dying state from a dangerous fall in the
orphan asylum this evening. I propose to. pursue my sub-
ject no further, but to turn this meeting into a season of
prayer for her restoration, if in accordance with the Lord's
will ; if not, that her mantle may fall upon another, to
carry forward that enterprise. The Lord can hear and
answer here as readily as by her bedside." He then led in
fervent supplication, followed by a few others. Said a
friend present: *'The announcement fell upon us like an
electric shock, and I never heard brother Smart, or those
who followed, pray with such power. Then brother Bird
arose and said, ' I feel confident that we shall have an
answer to our prayers, that sister Haviland will be re-
stored or another take her place.'"
My dear sister in Christ, Elizabeth L. Corastock, was at
that time laboring in the Master^s vineyard in Chicago.
Hearing of the accident by means of the telegram sent to
my daughter residing in that^city, she mentioned it at the
Moody noon prayer-meeting, and requested prayer for my
restoration, if it were the Lord's will. I was made the
subject of prayer also at Pittsford Wesleyan Methodist
protracted meeting.
A letter came from Bev. E. M. Cravath, of Cincinnati,
addressed to me, in answer to my daughter, L. J. Brownell,
who wrote that '* mother is unconscious from a dangerous
fall, and we (her children) are earnestly praying for her
restoration. If our Heavenly Father sees meet to grant
our petition, you will receive a reply from her when prac-
ticable." The immediate reply was: "You may rest as-
sured our All -wise Father will restore your mother if he
BBCOVERINO. 471
has further work for her to do. You may also be assured
that her friends in this city are uniting in prayer with her
children for her recovery."
I was so nearly conscious at one time that I heard some
one say, '* She will never speak again." The thought struck
me forcibly that I was going to get well, and yet I had no
sense of being ill. But I reflected that my children must be
very sad at the thought of giving me up, aud I would try
to say, "I am going to get ivell." With all the effort I
could command I could not utter a syllable. Then I tried
to see if my children were present ; but I seemed to be in
a pure, soft, white cloud, such as we sometimes see floating
in the ethereal blue, where I could discover no countenance
of those moving around my bed. Consequently I gave
over the effort, and was again lost to all consciousness until
three days and nights had passed. Then the first returning
consciousness was the passing away of that beautiful white
cloud) and I recognized my three daughters standing before
me. One of them said, ''Mother looks as if she knew
us." AVhy, yes, I thought, they are my daughters; but
what are their names? and what is my name? Then I
surveyed the room. The papered wall, maps, pictures, and
furniture all looked familiar; but where am I? Am I in
some large city, or in a country place ? I am advanced in
years; and what have I done in all my life? But I could
recall nothing. 4
While in this mental soliloquy, it came to mo what my
name was, and that this was the orphan asylum.
"Do you know me, mother?" said my daughter Jane.
It was a matter of reflection before I could utter the
word ''yes," and then a study to give her name. At length
I pronounced it. Another daughter made the same query,
and I had the answer, "yes," ready, but it seemed a hanl
study again to recollect the name Mira. The same effort
brought to my lips the name of Esther when she ad-
dressed me.
472 A woman's life-work.
''Don't have the least anxiety or care," she said,
''about this orphan asylum, for the friends have brought
grain, flour, meal, meat, and groceries in abundance." O
what a relief these words brought! Surely the Lord is
the Father of the fatherless.
After studying for words I said, " What is the matter?"
for I felt that my head was very sore, and my &ce swol-
len. When told that I had fallen down cellar and waa
badly hurt, I was surprised, for I could recall nothing of
the fall. After calling to mind the various residences of
my daughters, and words to inquire how they knew of the
accident, I was told that my son-in-law telegraphed them.
A'; length I reached the conclusion that I became stunned
by the bruise on my head, and fell asleep and slept my
senses all away, and that was the reason I did not know
any thing. I thought, must I learn to read again? Shall I
ever know any thing? How sad it will be not to know how
to read or do any thing; but I will leave all in the hands of
the dear Savior. They gave me medicine that I knew I
had taken. Did I not take this an hour ago? "O no,
mother, not since yesterday." What day of the week is
to-day? ** Monday." Then to-morrow will be Tuesday,
"Yes." I have got so far, I will remember that, thought
I. Again another dose of medicine was given. Did I take
this yesterday? "You took this two hours ago." It is
certain that I do* not know any thing. How sad it will be
wheu I get well of this hurt (as I had no doubt but I
should) and not know any thing. But, then, the second
thought of leaving it with the Lord was a resting-place.
But consciousness was gradually restored. The next day
my son Daniel came; but he did not dare to approach the
front door, fearing that a tie of crape on the knob would
be the first to tell him the sad story of his mothei^s depart-
ure. He was met at the back door by his three sisters,
one of whom informed him of a faint ho])e of my recovery,
''s there was evidence of returning consciousness. A day
BESTORED TO HEALTH. 473
later the fourth daughter, Anna H. Camburn, arrived. I
was thus permitted to meet all my children save one,
whose iufant son had died the day afler the news reached
him of my fall. But as the children daily informed their
brother Joseph of increasing hope of my recovery, he, of
my six children, was the only absent one. Through their
tender care and the blessing of God, in answer to many
earnest prayers, I was spared to toil on a few years longer.
To him alone be all the praise! My Savior never seemed
nearer.
It was January, 15, 186^, when I fully realizeil that
consciousness was restored. I renewed my entire consecra- ^
tion to .the service of my Lord and Master. All was peace '^
and quiet within. The inmates of the asylum, between
twenty-five and thirty, were so quiet that it seemed as if
no more than my own children were moving around me.
During the second week, through my dear friend Elizabeth
L. Comstock, seventy-five dollars was sent to us from
friends in Chicago. A few days later thirty dollars came
from the same $;ity. The fourth week afler the fall J was
removed to my home in the city of Adrian, accompanied
by my five children, three of whom then returned to their
homes. In four months I had so far recovered as to be
able to do moderate asylum work, and in one year I solic-
ited and received one thousand dollars for the asylum,
aside from the means sent during my inability to labor.
This kept the asylum in supplies, we hardly knew how,
only as it came from the Father of the &therle8s. Within
ten days after my arrival at home I received three checks
of fift^y dollars each from the Cincinnati Branch of the
American Missionary Association, from the Friends' Sab-
bath-school, in Syracuse, New York, and from John Stan*
ton, Washington, D. C.
In all this severe trial I had no regrets in making this
scheme another specialty in my life-work. I visited nine
county ix)or-houscs, learning the number of children in
40
474 A woman's life-work.
each, and noting their condition, with the view of reporting
to our next Legislature. In three of the county houses
were girls, half idiotic, who had become mothers. In one
there were twenty children of school-age, sent to school four
hours each day. As I followed the matron through the
dormitory and other parts of the house, I saw by the filthy
appearance of the sheets and pillows, as well as a want of
order generally, a great need of system. As I was about
to leave I remarked to the matron, *' You have many un-
pleasant tasks to perform here."
**La me, I guess we do," she said.
** You have plenty of vermin to deal with, I suppose?'*
"Indeed we do. You can scrape up quarts of 'em."
I added her testimony to my report. Then^ after vis-
iting many of the infirmaries on April 6th, t attended
meetings of our county super^'isors and superintendent of
the poor. I reported our work, and presented an order
for dues for the previous month. Having arranged my
monthly report, I presented it to the monthly meeting of
our asylum association.
I retired weary, and awoke to see Dr. Pearsall about
to leave my room. He was giving directions to my two
anxious daughters. To my surprise my son-in-law remarked,
'* Mother is so much better, I will return home." Here
was a mystery I was unable to solve, and I insisted on
knowing why the doctor was there, now nearly 2 o'clock in
the morning. I was informed that I had suffered an
attack of apoplexy. I was not the -least startled, but
told tliem if I had had a fit of that character, I was
liable to go at any time, and I wished to say a few things
and tlieu I would sleep : If I should be taken away in an
unconscious state for them not to have the least uneasiness
alx)ut me, as my way was clear. I wished my children to
live nearer the Savior, and meet their mother in a &irer
clime than this, and I requested them to tell my dear
absent children the same. I then directed how my little
APOPLEXY. 475
efibcts should be divided among my six children , and rested
well in sleep until the usual hour of waking, and was able
to dress in the afternoon.
Within ten days I rode to the asylum, made arrange-
ments to rent the land of the asylum farm for the coming
season, and wrote to brother G. A. Olmstead to take my
place in looking after its interests for a few months, as my
physicians told me it was unsafe for me to continue mental
labor, and I must rest at least six months. This was another
heavy drawback upon our faith and work, as we had de-
signed to circulate our petition during the remainder of the
year, so as to have it ready to present to the next Legisla-
ture. Rev. G. A. Qlmstead undertook the work of solic-
iting, and kept the asylum comfortably supplied until his
health failed. Then a devoted and sclfHsacrificing sister,
Catharine Taylor, took the field, while I spent six months
visiting my children. The severest prescription I ever took
from a physician, was to think of nothing. But I succeeded
admirably, and spent much time in drawing bits of clip-
pings and rags of diverse colors through canvas, making
domestic rugs for each of my children. I called upon
various physicians, who gave it as their opinion that I
could safely accomplish one-fourth of my former work, but
I did not even reach that amount of labor. In a little over
a month's work, with a petition to the Legislature in my
pocket, and at the home of Anson Backus and wife, I was
taken with another midnight fit, and was much longer
unconscious than before, but I returned home tlie follow-
ing afternoon, accompanied by brother Backus. Twenty-
five miles ride on the car and a mile in the hack did not
improve the strange pressure in my head. Within a week
I had five terrible spasms, lasting at times from five to
twenty minutes; during consciousness I was not able to
speak a word. When I appeared more comfortable, and
my heJid more natural, greater hopes of my recovery were
entertained by my physician and children.
476 A woman's life-work.
I thought these fits were faintings; for I felt as if I
had waked out of sleep each time. But the purple finger-
nails on the last day led me to suppose that I would die
in one of these faints. Between the fits I most earnestly
prayed that, if it was the Lord's will, I might be re-
stored to work for him a little longer ; but, if otherwise,
I would praise him still for taking me over the beautiful
river. O what a mistake to call it a dark, deep river,
when it is only a bright, rippling stream, just across which
all is peace and joy for evermore ! This was the constant
breathing of my soul all day; and it vividly flashed upon
my mind that fifteen years were added to Hezekiah's life
in answer to prayer. This prayer, followed by these words,
ran through my mind during all that happy day. Can
death, that is called the last enemy, look pleasant? It did
look pleasant to me. Praise filled my soul.
That day will never be forgotten as long as memory
and reason endure. In the evening I slept three minutes,
they said, by the watch, and when I awoke I could talk
as easily as ever. From that day I improved in health.
These spasms were caused by the pressure of blood in re-
opening the temporal artery, or forcing its way through a
new channel. I again received the tenderest of nursing
on the part of my four daughters, and praise is due only
to him who is the prayer-hearing God. With the fervent
prayers of that memorable day come the words of the
poet:
" *T is a glorious boon to die,
A favor that can 't be prized too high ;"
because of an abundant entrance to be administered to us
into the glorious mansions prepared by our Lord and Sav-
ior Jesus Christ.
OBPHAN ASYLUM. 477
Chapter XVII.
"STATE PUBMO SCHOOL."
As already noted, my health gave way, as did also that
gf our worthy agent, Cathenne Taylor. She endured great
suffering from inflammation of the sciatic nerve, and was en^
tirely disabled from labor for months. Late in the Autumn
our supplies ran very low, and our self-sacrificing president
was also in poor health. She, with a few other members of
the board, visited the asylum, and found nothing on hand
but corn-meal and turnips, which, with a little milk that wa{i
made into a gravy, was all there was to keep the children
from starving. Our president ran in debt twenty-six dol-
lars at the mill and grocery ; but on Thanksgiving -day a
collection of sixty-six dollars was taken for the asylum.
This liquidated the debt, and furnished the necessary food
for the time being. But Winter was approaching, and the
failing health of the workers seemed to forebode the neces-
sity of closing our asylum work.
Mrs. Catherine Rice corresponded with friends of the
work in Grand Rapids, asking them to unite with us in a
petition to the State Legislature to establish a State manual
labor school in Grand Rapids, as the friends in that city
were arranging for a local orphan asylum. The subject
was discussed in the board, but a small majority voted
against uniting their local interests with the State work.
During this time, all new material sent in for clothing was
exchanged for food, and Jane A. Smith and our faithful
teacher applied to a few friends and received temporary aid.
On December 15, 1870, we found the provisions too short
to last for two weeks. The question came u]), What shall
bo done for the twenty children for whom no homes ar^
478 A woman's life-work.
provided? Under the circumstances, there seemed do al-
ternative but to return the children to their respecti^-e
county infirmaries. When this decision was reached bj the
board of managers, and made known to the matron and
teacher, on the evening of their week-day prayer-meetiDg,
the matron informed the children of it. Eleven of them
bad made a profession of religion, and had given evidence
of having found Him who said, *' Suffer little children to
come unto me, and forbid them not." Each of these oflered
earnest prayer for God to help them live so faithfully that
he would make friends for them, to bring them something
to eat, *'so we won't have to go back to the county ixwr-
house."
All this time my children and friends had not allowed
pie to know the condition of the asylum. Our firm friend,
Rebecca Bennett, and our president called on my physician
to ask permission to see me for advice as to whom they
could write for aid. He replied, ** With your calm and
judicious manner, I can risk you." But they came far
short of making a full revelation of the true state of
things. I advised them to write the superintendent of the
Congregationalist Sabbath-school at Franklin Center, and
to the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Te-
cumseh. They proposed that I should dictate to my
daughter what to write. This was done, and my appeal
was read in their respective congregations. Within a week
two sleigh-loads, containing grain, flour, meal, and beef,
and a whole dressed sheep, came from those places. The
drivers rolled in barrel after barrel from each of the
sleighs, and said they would bring more before this was
gone. One little boy of eleven years said :
** Mrs. Smith, do n't you think God sent all this 'cause
we prayed so hard the other night?"
** My child," she answered, ** the Lord has heard our
prayers, and has answ^ered ; and, although it is snowing
hard, yet you must hurry, and liitch Jack to the buggy as
PETITION TO THE LEGISLATURE. ' 479
quick as possible, so that we can let Mrs. Haviland know
this ; for I have been afraid she has been worse since she
learned we were so nearly out"
Soon she came into my room with the glad tidings:
*' Do not take another anxious thought over our asylum.
We had more supplies come to us to-day than we have
Lad for two months — two heavy sleigh-loads." We claspe<l
each others' hands and wept for joy, and praised God,
from whom all blessings flow.
This news revived the spirits of those whose hands were
banging down, and gave them courage to reappoint offi-
cers. Bev. Dr. Asa Mahan's wife served as president,
with other officers, duly elected. A petition to the Legis-
lature was drafted and industriously circulated, and printed
copies were sent to a number of the superintendents of coun-
ties who had favored our project. Though the Legislature
was in session, and there was not time to circulate it as ex-
tensively as desirable, yet Dr. Mahan and others thought
it might succeed, although there were heavy drafls upon
our Legislature of 1870-71. The State Prison was to be
enlarged, the Insane Asylum to be improved, and additions
to Ann Arbor University made, while there were still
other calls for appropriations. All these made the success
of our scheme look doubtful to many. All 1 could do was to
continue in pmyer that senators and representatives might
feel the importance of looking after the pressing wants of
our future men and women, soon to fill our vacated places.
I found many children in the county poor-house through
the debauchery of their fathers, and occasionally mothers.
The improvement, both in conduct and in morals, of
the neglected little waifs whom we had gathered into our
asylum, urged us on in our work ; for we realized that our
experiment was a success. Our friends were thus encour-
aged to press forward with the petition.
Dr. Mahan and his wife, our president, went before the
Ix'gislature with the view of pressing our claims. Mem-
480 A woman's li^e-work.
bers of the Seuate and House proposed to grant Dr. Mahan
one evening in representing the project, and left it in tlie
hands of the Committee on Petitions. Senator Bandall,
of Cold water, put it in the form of a bill that covered the
spirit and requests of the petition. Being chairman of the
Committee on Bills, he presented it in the Senate. It was
passed in that body, to our great joy, and soon after was
passed in the House, and received the governor's signature,
making it a law.
Though only thirty thousand dollars were appropriated
by the Legislature with which to commence operations,
yet I knew the State would carry on the work hereafter.
The site for the new asylum was to be selected at whatever
desirable locsility offered the most liberal donation. As
Coldwater offered thirty thousand dollars toward the new
enterprise, it was located in that city. Wliile the build-
ings for the State school were being erected, our asylum
was moved into the city of Adrian, as at that point it was
more convenient for the sisters composing the board of
managers to care for it When the "State Public School"
should be opened, all in our asylum not provided with
homes were to be transferred to it.
My health improved sufficiently to enable me to make
a few appeals to bring up arrears in our work. The ma-
tron and myself had received but very little, as all went
to the support of the children. I cared but little for my-
self; but for sister Smith, who had been such a faithful
mother to these poor children, I was more anxious. At
length I secured permission of my tender care-takers — my
two daughters — to go among my friends in Detroit. To
most of them I appealed by letter, and made but one per-
sonal call. That was more particularly in the interest of
a prisoner for whom I solicited a pardon. This was at
length granted. Governor Baldwin had known of my
asylum work, and inquired after its interests. He gave
'•ne twenty dollars towards it. Mr. Grapo's son gave me
STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL. 481
twenty-five dollars, and Captain E. B. Ward fifty dollars.
Others responded to my letters, and I obtained over two
hundred dollars.
The great fires in Chicago and Northern Michigan
stopped further work of this character ; but we did what
we could toward canceling arrearages, being confident that
were it not for the continued and faithful toiling of Jane
A. Smith the asylum would have died during my long and
serious illness. It must have died, even after its removal
to Adrian, had it not been for a faithful few.
A few months after the State Public School was opened
at Coldwater, in charge of Professor Truesdell, superintend-
ent, and Miss Emma A. Hall, matron. I went into the
school as seamstress and nurse, and remained there nearly
two years. Instead of overhauling, cutting, and making
over second-hand clothes for the three hundred little home-
less waifs we had cared for in our orphans' home, we were
now well supplied with bolts of substantial new material,
out of which we made comfortable bedding and clothing.
Here we had no care about furnishing, and no anxious
fear for their support With pleasure we saw the vast
contrast in conveniences and supplies compared with our
little rill in which we so long paddled our own canoe, and
in which fiuthful laborers were still at work. It matters
not by whom this great work was accomplished; it matters
not by what agencies our prayer of more than four years
long, previous to the adopting of this work by the State,
was answered. Through an overruling power clouds and
icebergs vanished, and in lieu thereof the massive brjck
buildings of the Sute Public Scbool in Coldwater were
raised, instead of the old Raisin Institute, where it drew
its first breath.
In 1872. 1 returned to my Adrian home, and, as the
spirit of missions became an increasing clement in the So-
ciety of Friends, I became again a member of that branch
of the Church of Christ.
41
482 A woman's life-work.
Chapter XVIIL'
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE FREEDMEN.
Our investigations liave proved to the friends of the
former slaves that their emigration from the South was not
instituted and put into operation by their own choice, ex-
cept as the force of circumstances, in their mnroimdingB,
pressed them into this remarkable movement. Monthly
reports of the Kansas 'Freedmen's Belief Association have
also proved satisfactory to thousands of donors toward their
relief. The increasing intelligence among the four millions
and a half of slaves, declared free by the nation's pen iu
the hand of her President, Abraham Lincoln, they found
did not bring with it the glorious sunlight of freedom the
proclamation promised in its dawn. After fifteen years
of patient hoping, waiting, and watching for the shaping
of government, they saw clearly that their future condition
as a race must be submissive vassalage, a war of races, or
emigraUon. Circulars were secretly distributed among
themselves, until the conclusion was reached to wend then:
way northward, as their former masters' power had again
become tyrannous. This power they were and are made
to see and feel most keenly in many localities, a few inci-
dents will show.
Elder Perry Bradley left Carthage, Leek County, Mis-
sissippi, in January, 1880, and testifies to the following
facts:
" In October, 1879, twenty-five or thirty masked men
went into Peter Watson's house, and took him from his
bed, amid screams of * murder ' from his wife and seven
children ; but the only reply the wife and children received
the hands of the desperadoes was a beating. Their boy
INCIDENTS. 483
of twelve years knocked one down with a chair. While
the fighting was going on within, and in their efforts to
hold their victim outside, he wrenched himself i^om their
grasp — Cleaving his shirt in their hands — and ran through
the woods to my house, around which colored men gath-
ered and protected him. Although twelve gun-shots fol-
lowed him in the chase, yet none hit him. By the aid
of friends he took the first train he could reach, which, to
his surprise, took him twenty-five miles southward, instead
of in a northern direction. At Gassiasca, Attala County,
Mississippi, not knowing whether they were friends or foes,
he told them he wanted to go to Kansas. They told him
he should swear that he could not make a living there,
before they would allow him to go North. As he found
they were all Democrats at that depot, he consented to
their demand; consequently they brought the Bible, and
he took his oath ' that he could make a living there, but
could not get it' The Democratic * buU-dozers,' who had
sworn they would hang him if they ever caught him, took
his span of horses, wagon, three cows, and his crop of
cotton, corn, sugar-cane, and potatoes (all matured), and
gave his wife money with which to pay the fare for her-
self and seven children the twenty-five miles on the cars to
meet her husband. The colored men were told ' that if they
would be Democrats they could stay; but Bepublicans and
carpet-baggers could not live there.'
''Austin Carter, a Methodist preacher, was an earnest
temperance worker, and was prospering in that part of his
work. He was also a strong Republican. He was shot
dead in August, 1878, near New Forest Station, Bcott
County, Mississippi, on the railroad running east and west
between Jackson and Meridian, Mississippi, while on his
way home, between the hours of six and seven o'clock P.
M. He received four shots in the back of his head, which
instantly took his life. His wife and children knew noth-
484 A WOMAN^S LIFE-WORK.
ing of it until the shocking tidings reached them the fol-
lowing morning. Thomas Graham, a wealthy merchant at
Forest Station, reported that the man who shot him had
gone to Texas and could not be found or heard from ; and
nothing was done to find the murderer or to bring him
to justice."
Elder Perry Bradley was told by a number of this class
of Democrats, at various places where he was accustomed
to preach, that he could not live there and preach unless
he would vote the Democratic ticket and teach his people
to do the same. Said he, '*In the town of Hillsboro, at
one of my meetings, the buUdozers came into the congre-
gation and took me out of the meeting, held in a school-
house one mile from Hillsboro, on April 15, 1879, at ten
o'clock P. M., where I had preached during our day meet-
ings without disturbance. Captain Hardy, leading the
band, took me into the woods to an old deserted house, in
which was their general or chief commander, Warsham,
who asked the following question : ' Will you stop preach-
ing to your people that Christ died to make you all free,
body, soul, and spirit^ 'I can not stop preaching God's
truth as I find it in the Bible,' was my answer. ' I want
you to understand now that you can't preach such doc-
trine to our niggers,' was the rejoinder. He then directed
them to give me two hundred lashes. They took me out
in the front yard and drove four stakes in the ground, to
which each wrist and foot was fastened. After being dis-
robed of my clothing and fastened, face do^vnward, two
men were selected to do the whipping, one on each side,
alternating their strokes, while the rabble stood around
until the two hundred lashes were given. Then they were
told to stop and let me up. Too weak and trembling to
stand, I was again queried whether I would not now preach
the Democratic doctrine and vote that ticket? I replied,
'I can not conscientiously make such a promise.' 'Why
PERSECUTIONS. 486
not?' 'Because I do not believe there axe Democrats
in heaven.' Said their general, Warsham, *We'll turn
him loose with this brushing; may be he'll conclude to
behave himself after this.' Turning to me he said, ' Be-
member, this is but a light brushing compared with what
you'll get next time; but well try you with this.' I
returned to my home with my back cut in many deep
gashes, the scars of which I shall carry to my grave. Yet
I praised God in remembrance that my loving Savior suf-
fered more than this for me, and that this suffering was in
his cause. A^ soon as I was able to continue my work for
my Lord and Master among my people I was again enabled
to proclaim the riches of his grace. A few weeks after
resuming my work I preached on the Dan. Lewis' place, in
Scott County, where I had held meetings undisturbed.
But the same company sought me out, and took me out of
an evening meeting into the woods about three miles dis-
tant to hang me. Aft^r due preparations were made they
passed their whisky around, of which they all drank so
freely that in their carousings they got into a fight, and
while drawing pistols at each other young Warsham, the
acting captain, in whose charge I was left, cut the rope
that bound my hands behind me, and told me to 'go.'
And gladly I obeyed the order and left them engaged in
their fight and too drunk to notice my escape. I left that
land of darkness as soon as possible for this free Kansas,
and I have my family with me, for which I thank my
Deliverer from the jaws of the lion of oppression, and
praise the Lord of hosts for a free country, whei* I can
vote as well as preach according to the dictates of my
own conscience without the torturing whip or the hang-
man's rope."
Professor T. Greener, of Howard University, Washing-
ton, D. C, who has been prominently identified in the
new exodus lately returned from a trip to Kansas, where
he visited the colored colonies, and gathered informat'
486 A woman's life-work.
regarding the black emigrants. He reports them as doing
well, constantly receiving accessions to their numbers, and
well treated by their white neighbors. He says: "Indica-
tions point to a continuance of emigration during the Win-
ter, and increase in the Spring, not in consequence of anj
special effort on the part of those who favor this solution
of the vexed Southern question, but because the emigrants
themsojves are proving the best agents and propagandists
among their friends South." Professor Greener is warm in
his praise of Governor John P. St. John and the people
of Kansas.
A staff correspondent of the Chicago Irder-Ocean,
writing from Topeka, Kansas, December 31, 1879, says:
'* During four weeks' travel through the State, I estimate
the number of colored emigrants at fifteen or twenty thou-
sand. Of these one-fifth probably are able to buy land,
and are making good progress at farming. Most of the
others have found, through the Freodmen's Belief Associ-
ation, places as laborers, and are giving good satisfaction ;
and in no county are they applying for aid, nor arc bur-
dens upon corporate charities. The demand for laborers
seems stretched to its fullest capacity, as the accumulation
of refugees at the barracks (now nearly seven hundred),
for whom no places can be found, clearly indicates. Judg-
ing from what I learn from the refugees themselves, and
from the increasing numbers, now from twenty-five to fifty
arriving every day, we predict that the movement to Kan-
sas will soon assume such proportions as to astonish the
country, and unless the tide can be turned, or the charity
of the North be more readily bestowed, the suffering which
the relief committee, although laboring faithfully with the
means at their command, has not been entirely sufficient to
relieve during the past cold weather, will soon be turned
to general destitution and great suffering among the pauper
refugees."
The greatest crime in many portions of the South is
PEB8ECUTION OF a>L()RED REPUBLICAN8. 487
beiug a Republican. This has added largely to the emigra-
tion, and the tide has reached not only Kansas, but the
older States of the North. It has entered Indiana, Ohio'^
and Illinois, and soon will find its way into Wisconsin,
Iowa, and Michigan. We find no political chicanery of the
North in this universal uprising of the colored people of
the South in leaving the home of their birth. But it is
the mistaken policy of the South that is driving their laboi^
ers northward; that is^ compelling them to flee to more
congenial surroundings. It is among the wonders that they
waited so long and so patiently for the better day to come.
Not long ago one thousand arrived in Parsons, Kansas, in
the south-western part of the State. Governor St. John
gave them a temperance speech with other good advice.
Two hundred and twenty-five arrived in Topeka, and while
I was at the barracks over seventy came in from Texas.
Hardly a day passed while I was there but we heard of
fresh arrivals. Eleven wagon-loads came into Parsons,
and two of the men came to Topeka and reported the con-
dition of many of them as very poor. We relieved within
three weeks over one thousand persons.
The crime of being a RepvhUcan, in many portions of
the South, is shown by the following testimonies. I inter-
viewed an intelligent colored man, John S. Scott, of An-
derson County, South Carolina. He came well recom-
mended as a well qualified teacher. He had taught twenty-
eight terms of school in South Carolina and six terms in
Georgia ; but if he succeeded in collecting half his pay he
did well. He handed me a package of certificates and com-
mendations. His friends were about to run him for office,
but his life was threatened, and he was informed that they
were determined to have a '* white man's government," and
gave him to understand that if he got the office, his life
would be worthless.
Abbeville district, iu that State, was Republican, and
John pwen was an influential colored Republican. Duf^*
488 A woman's jjfe-work.
the election he was arrested and placed iu jail, under the
charge of selling forty-eight pounds of twisted tobacco
without license. When arraigned before the court it was
jm)ved that he had no such article, yet they fined him
fifty dollars. He had raised tobacco, but it was still in
the leaf. The fine was paid, and after the election he was
released.
In the Seventh Congressional District, on Coosa River,
September 24, 1877, a white man by the name of Bumam
offered to purchase a small cotton &rm near his, owned by
a colored man, and ofiered him forty dollars for it The
owner replied, " I will sell to no man for that amount."
Nothing more was said on the subject, and the colored
man purchased a few pounds of bacon of Bumam and left
for home. As he liad to pass a little skirt of woods, Bur-
nam took his gun, crossed the w(X)ds, and came out ahead
of the colored man and shot him dead ! He remained at
his home two weeks, when the excitement over the cold-
blooded murder became unpleasant for him, and he left
the neighborhood, and had not returned in March, 1878,
the date my informant left the country. Tlie murdered
man was a Republican.
Sanford Griffin was an honorably discharged soldier, and
he testified that Columbus Seats was shot dead by Frank
Phillips, in Clarksville, Tennessee. Griffin made an efibrt
to have the murderer arrested, but failed. No difference
was known to exist between them, except on the subject
of politics. Seats was a Republican, and could not be
induced to vote the Bourbon ticket.
Iu the autumn of 1878 Vincent Anderson was brought
into Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee, at eleven
o'clock A. M. The following night a mob took him
out of jail and hanged him on a locust tree on the Nash-
ville Pike, near Clarksville. This case Griffin made an
— «ffi)rt to bring before the court, but failed. The jailer,
'*is, said the men who brought Anderson to the jail,
.^EORO WOMAN KILLED. 489
came in the night, and having overpowere<l him, forcibly
took the jail key. But a girl of thirteen years testified
that she saw the men in conversation with the jailer, and
was confident they paid him money. Vincent Anderson
had purchased ten acres of land, and had paid every
installment promptly, and was on the way to the railroad
station to make his last payment, when the mob took him
to jail, until the darkness of night favored their wicked
purpose of taking his life. He could not be prevailed
upon to vote the Bourbon ticket.
One more incident this intelligent ex-Union soldier gave
to which he was a witness: A young white woman, Miss
Smith, purchased a pistol and remarket), '^ I am going to
kill a nigger before the week is out.'' During that week
her father and Farran, a colored man, had a dispute, but
Farran had no thought of any serious result from it But
as Lydia Farran, the wife of the colored man, was on her
way to the field to help her husband, Miss Smith, the
white girl of eighteen or twenty years of age, took the pis-
tol she had purchased a day or two previously, and fol-
lowed Lydia and shot her dead! She left two little chil-
dren, that a colored family got to their distracted father,
who escaped for his life. He had not known of any diffi-
culty between his wife and Miss Smith, or any other of the
family, and could attribute the cool calculating murder of
his wife to no other cause than the little difference of
opinion that was expressed a few days previous to the &tal
deed I Sanford Griffin succeeded in bringing this case be-
fore the court. But the charge of the judge to the jurors
was, *' You must bear in mind that Miss Smith was the
weaker party, and if the shooting was in self-defense, it
would be justifiable homicide." The jury so returned their
verdict, and the case was dismissed.
The Freedmen's Aid Commission in Kansas relieved the
wants of many of these refugees from the South ; but the
number of colored people was so great that, until the*
490 A woman's MFE-H'ORK.
could find places to work for others or for themselves, the
Conimissiou had difficulty to care for them. A circular
letter was issued, appealing to the friends of the cause for
help. To this letter, sent out in December, 1879, these
few telling words, from our dear friend and Christian phi-
lanthropist, Elizabeth L. Comstock, were added: ''The
treasury is nearly empty; city and barracks very much
crowded ; refugees coming in faster than we can care for
them; money urgently needed for food, fuel, and medicine,
and also to provide shelter.'' We take pleasure in an-
nouncing that our appeals from time to time met with
resiM)usive chords in many hearts, and relief was sent to
the perishing.
It is needless to speak further of the causes for emi-
gration, so clearly set forth in the foregoing &ct8 ; but we
give a late one, which in its section of country caused
considerable anxiety and stir among this oppressed people.
About the close of July an article appeared in the Mer-
ctiry, edited by Colonel A. G. Horn, at Meridian, Missis-
sippi, in which occurs the following: ''We would like to
engrave a i^rophecy on stone, to be read by generations in
the future. The negroes in these States will be slaves
again or cease to be. Their sole refuge from extinction
will be in slavery to the white man." Do not forget, dear
reader, that though ignorant, as a large majority of ex-
slaves are, yet their children read these sentiments, which
are more outspoken than that which characterizes South-
ern Democracy; yet re-enlivened treason is nevertheless
the true sentiment and ruling power of many places in
ex-slave States. It is so accepted by- the negroes, who, to
avoid extinction or slavery, seek refuge amid physical and
pecuniary hardships. Indeed, this exodus from the South
is not ended — a move for freedom is not easily extinguished.
To aid the reader fully to understand the needs of these
poor people in the southern portion of Kansas, I insert an
">peal of a constant and self-sacrilicing worker for them,
LETTEK FBOM THE SOUTH, 491
Dauicl Votaw, of Independen<^, Kansas: "It appears that
the southern portion of this State is having a larger share
of emigrants than any other part of it. For this reason I
ask the philanthropist to send aid quickly. I believe
clothing will come; but who will send money to buy
bread ? Most of them say, ' Just give corn-bread, and we
are satisfied.' I have never seen nor heard so much grat-
itude come from any people as flows from the hearts of
these poor colored refugees. Our granaries are full, our
groceries groan with tlie weight of provisions ; but these suf-
ferers have nothing to buy with. My blood almost runs
chill when I remember that there are two excessive luxu-
ries used by persons who call themselves men, that would,
if rightly applied, fill this crying bill of want; namely,
tobacco and whisky. Come, erring brothers, to the rescue.
Can you not donate these expenses to this good cause?
Do it, and Heaven will bless you. Those who may send
provisions, clothing, or money, will get a correct account,
if a note of donor or shipper is found inside the package,
to enable us to respond with a correct receipt."
I have a letter from a colored man in Mississippi, ad-
dressed to Governor John P. St. John, which he turned
over to me to answer. I give an extract: ''Please advise
me what to do. The white men here say we have got to
stay here, because we have no money to go with. We can
organize with a little. Since the white people mistrust our
intentions, they hardly let us have bread to eat. As soon
as we can go on a cheap scale, we are getting ready to
leave. Some of us are almost naked and starved. We
are banding together without any instruction from you or
any aid society. We are all Republicans, and hard-work-
ing men, and men of trust. We have to keep our inten-
tion secret or be shot; and we are not allowed to meet.
We want to leave before the matter is found out by the
bulldozers. There are forty widows in our band. They
are work-women and farmers also. The white men h
492 A woman's i^ife-work.
take our wives and daughters, and serve them as they
please, and we are shot if we saj any thing about it; and
if we vote any other way than their way we can not live
in our State or county. We are sure to leave, or be killed.
They have driven away all Northern whites and colored
leaders. A little instruction from you will aid the com-
mittee greatly in our efforts in getting away. Hoping to
hear from you soon in regard to the request, we remain,
very truly, yours,*' etc.
The foregoing, from which I purposely omit the name
and address of the writer, is a sample of many hundreds
of letters received by Governor St. John. Many of them
he placed in our hands to reply. But neither the gover-
nor nor our association could do any thing to bring these
poor people to Kansas. Our sole object is to relieve them
after their arrival. Consequently, it is but little encour-
agement we could give these sorrowing hearts as to any
preparations for leaving that poisoned land. One family
told us, ** We were compelled to lay our plans in secret;
and we left our bureau and two large pictures standing in
our cabin, and took a night boat." What a misnomer to
call our former slave States free!
The cry has been, ** The sooner Northern carpet-baggers
leave the South, the better for them ; and the sooner the
nigger finds his proper place, and keeps it, the better for
him." The following incidents will serve as data, from
which we have a right to judge of the manner used to
bring the colored people into what they deem their proper
place. But they are becoming too intelligent to endure
subjugation when they can evade it by flight.
Robert Robinson, on the road between Huntsville, Al-
abama, and Cold Springs, hired a colored man for three
months, and he called at his store for his pay. "All right,"
said Robinson; "step back, and we '11 look over the books
and pay you." After entering the room the door was
^ked, and Robinson placed a pistol at his head, while his
ATRiK^ITIES. 493
brother beat him with a pine club, which disabled him
from labor for three weeks. This was his paj.
Giles Lester was taken to jail, and was in the hands
of Bailiff Danlej. A mob of fifteen or twenty men took
him out on Friday night, to a piece of woods, and hanged
him — not so as to break his neck at once; but they were
three hours in beating him to death. A white man living
near by said he never heard such cries and groans of ag-
ony in all his life as during those three hours. These
atrocities were committed within two years past.
During the Mississippi riot that fiercely raged during
1875-6, the object of which was to secure a solid Democratic
vote at the presidential election, innocent men, without
the shadow of provocation, were hauled out of their houses
and shot, or hanged ; and no legal notice was taken of the
murderers, for they were men of property and standing.
General J. R Chalmers was a leader in one band of these
rioters, and is now honored with a seat in Congress. The
mob took Henry Alcorn out of his house to the woods and
shot htm, leaving the murdered man to be buried by his
friends, who mourned over his sad fate. But there is no
redress where this corrupt public sentiment takes tlie place
of law. This band of rioters called up Charlie Green to
cook for them all night at one of their places of rendez-
vous. At early morn, Charlie being tired, fell asleep sit-
ting on a dry-goods box. One of the party said he wanted
to try his gun before starting, and discharged its contents
into Green's body, taking his life instantly !
One or two instances of Southern malignity and outrage
w^ere reported to me by one of these refugees. A woman
residing near some of those whom I interviewed during my
stay in Kansas, in 1879-80, was called out by the **Botir-
bous" or "Regulators" who were in pursuit of her husband,
and questioned as to his whereabouts. Suspecting that
their object was to take his life she refused to tell. U|h»
this a ro{)e was placed around her neck and tied to a hor
494 A woman's life-work.
tail, aud she was thus dragged to the nearest wood and
hanged to the limb of a tree until she was dead. Her bus-
baud made his escape as best he could with his mother-
less babe.
There was a plantation in Mississippi rented to six
colored men, three of them with families. At Christmas
they called for a settlement Morgan, the proprietor,
brought them into his debt, and swore '' every nigger had
eatcu Ills head off." He took seven hundred busliels of
wheat that they had raised, aud fourteen fat hogs, the
corn, and even the team and wagon they brought on the
place. Tliey concluded to resort to the civil authorities,
lioping to recover a i)ortion of the avails of the season's
hanl ^vork. But Morgan gained the suit. At this the
colored men told him just what they thought of this whole-
sale robl)erv. Within a week after the six men were taken
out of their beds in the dead of night, by a company
of masked ** Regulators," who stripped the bedsteads of
their cords, with which they were hanged and then lashed
to l)oards and sent floating down the MissLsaippi River. A
white cloth was fastened over their bosoms, upon which
was written : ''Any one taking up these bodies to bury may
expect the same fate.** They were taken out of the river
one hundred miles below. Two of the widows sent for the
bodies of their husbands, and a number whom I conversed
Avith attended the funeral and read the notice on the linen,
which had not been removed from their persons. Surely
we have a right, and it is our duty to ventilate these facts,
though we may he deemed sensational. We can not be
charged with political wire-jiuUing, as they are beyond our
reach. But I ask, in the words of Elizabeth M. Chandler,
who has long since gone to her rest and reward—-
"Slmll we behold nnheeding
Life's lioliest feelings crushed?
"When woman's heart is bleeding,
Shall woman's voice be hushed?"
REFUGEES IN KANSAS. 495
Is it a wonder the freedmen iSee by hundreds and thou-
sands? They are still coming into Kansas. There are
many sick and dying among them. Let every man, woman,
and child arise and work for the refugees, who are suffer-
ing for food, fuel, and clothing. There is great necessity
for immediate and vigorous effort, in taking the place of
the Good Samaritan in caring for the robbed and bruised
stranger, who find many priests and Ijevites passing by.
During the Winter all money and supplies ibr Kansas
refugees should be directed to Elizabeth L. Comstock,
North Topeka, Kansas.
Our work is by every possible means aiding these poor
people to help themselves, which they are doing wherever
work can be found. But Winter season overtaking tlicni on
the way to Kansas, and no work to be obtained, the phi-
lanthropy of our North will not withhold her liberal hand.
It is a debt which we owe to this people. Comparatively
few call for assistance who have been in the State a year,
and most of these are aged grandparents, the sick, and
widows with large families of small children.
Of those who came early in the Spring of 1879, many
have raised from one hundred to four hundred bushels of
com each year, but they divide with their friends and
relatives who follow them. Some raised a few acres of
cotton in their first year, and they are jubilant over their
future outlook. They say, '' Kansas prairies will blossom
as the rose, and whiten her thousands of acres with their
favorite staple.^ One old man whose head was almost as
white as the few acres of cotton he produced, said, '* We'll
'stonish the nation wid thousands of snow-white acres of
cotton in dis ycre free Kansas, raised wid black hands." I
find they are writing back to their relatives and friends in
the &r off South, that they can raise cotton as successfully
in Kansas aa iu Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. In
this prospect the door of hope is opening before them, as
if by the Almighty hand, which they ac'cept as havi'
496 A woman's life- wore.
led them to the *^ land of freedom," as they often express
themselves.
They are coming in larger numbers again, notwith-
standing every possible effort of planters to keep them
back, and false reports from their enemies in this State
that the exodus had ended ; but we who are in communi-
cation with other portions of the State know to the con-
trary, and all who come report more to follow. These poor
people who, between March, 1879, and March, 1881, have
made their escape from an oppression that seems almost
^incredible, and have come to Kansas to live, now number
more than fifty thousand, and still they come. Like a
great panorama, the scenes I witnessed in this State six-
teen years ago, amid clashing arms, come back to me.
Suffering and dying then seemed the order of each day.
True, there is a great deal of suffering and ignorance
among these field hands still, but there is a marked im-
provement, both as to the intelligence of these masses and
their personal coipfort. Are they not as intelligent as were
the children of Israel when they left Egypt? They made
a golden calf to worship after Moses had left them a few
days. All ignorant people are prone to depend upon lead-
ers instead of relying on themselves.
Joseph Fletcher, who came into Kansas July 8, 1879,
I found by his papers to be an honorably discharged sol-
dier from Mississippi. He testifies to the following facts:
'* I saw one hundred men killed by shooting and hanging
during the two years, 1878 and 1879 ; and my brother was
one of them. I can point to their graves to-day in the two
parishes I worked in. This was in the Eed River section,
Mississippi. Their crime was their persistence in voting
the Republican ticket." A number of the representative
men from those parishes were interviewed, and they testl«
fied to the same things. A number of them had been
soldiers.
Andrew J. Jackson, directly from Waterproof, Missis-
BCLLDOZIXCI. 497
sippi, says: "Fairiax was a smart, educated man. Ho
owned his house and land, aud gave a lot to the colored
Baptist Church aud mostly built it. But the bulldozers
burned both house aud church. He rebuilt his house.
The Republicans nominated him for Senator,, and the
Bourlxm Democrats found he would be elected. They
threatened his life, and as he found snares were laid to
entrap him, he made his escape to New Orleans for safety.
When they learned as to his whereabouts, a number of
men ^vrote for him to come hack, and they would drop the
matter aud let the election go as it would ; but he heeded
neither their letters nor telegrams. One of his friends was
fearful that he would heed their persuasions and went to
see him, and told him not to listen to their sweet talk, for
the bulldozers only wanted him back so that they might
take his life. The white Democrats continued to write to
him to come back and advise the colored people not to go
North, aud they would promise to protect him, for every
body wanted him to return and none would molest him.
As he did not return for all their pledges, one man, who
had always appeared very friendly with him, went to sec
him, and told him that all who had opposed him pledged
their word and honor that he should not be disturbed in
the least if he would only return and persuade the colored
people not to go to Kansas, as he had more influence over
them than any other man. He assured him so confidently
that he concluded to trust them, and returned to the bosom
of his family on Saturday; but before Monday morning he
was shot dead. The heart-rending scene can better be im-
agined than described.''
Said one intelligent man, ''We can do nothing to pro-
tect the virtue of our wives and daughters. Near Grccu-
ville, Mississippi, a colored woman was passing through a
little skirt of woods, when she was attacked by two white
men, who violated her person; then, to prevent exposure
they murdered her in the most savage manner. They f
42
498 A woman's life-work.
her clothes over her head and hanged her by her waist to
a hickory sapling, and ripped open her bowels until the one
that would within a few weeks have occupied its place in
its mother's arms, fell to the ground. Just at that junct-
ure two colored men came in sight, and the white men
dodged into the woods. This drew attention to the awful
scene of the dying woman weltering in her gore. They
hastened to cut her down, and just as she was breathing
her last she whispered, "Tell my husband." One watched
the corpse while the other went to inform the husband.
This barbarous murder, which took place in April, 1879,
was twice related to me in the same way by different
women from the same neighborhood, who attended the
funeral. As I related this to our friend, W. Armour and
wife, of Kansas City, he remarked that the same incident
had been told to him by some of the new arrivals. We
repeat, Who can wonder at their flight?
On July 12th and 13th two boat-loads more of refu-
gees, numbering four hundred persons, landed in lower Kan-
sas City. I heard it again repeated, "What shall we do?
Here in Topeka are two hundred poor people waiting to
go somewhere to get work, and only two hundred dollars
in our treasury!" Where shall we send them? More than
fifty men and women were then out hunting work ; many
found it and rented cabins. We waited for a reply from
the railroad authorities, to see if they would take two hun-
dred passengers for that money to Colorado.
This association met and reached the conclusion to tel-
egraph Mr. W. Armour and his co-laborere, at Kansas
City, to send the four hundred at that place to other points,
as it was impossible to receive them in Topeka until those
already there were furnished with homes, or more money
should como to their aid. I returned to Kansas City, and
found their hands and hearts full also, and heard the query
repeated, "What are we to do for these poor people? We
'^ not send them back, and thc}' mitd be fed until wo
KANSAS OVER-FULL. 499
hear from places to which we have telegraphed." Favor<
able replies came for seveuty-five families to Colorado. The
colored minister, Elder Watson, was to take them awaj^
and visited St. Louis to request the friends in that city to
send no more in this direction for the present.
A white woman called to see some of these poor people,
and brought chicken broth for a very sick man. She said
she was born in Virginia, raised in Georgia, where she had
taught school, and also taught in Mississippi and Alabama.
Because she contended for the rights of the colored peo-
ple, as they were free, she was ostracised and compelled
to leave the South. Said she, *^I have seen them hung
and shot like dogs. They can not tell you the half of
what they suffer. I know it, for I have seen it."
While I was still visiting among these people, the
steamer Fannie Lewis landed with one hundred and four
more refugees from Mississippi. Here they had nothing for
their covering except the open sky. We feared that, un-
less other States should rally to the rescue, nothing but
suffering and death would be before them. Kansas had
domiciled about what she could for the present, unless
further aid should be given from without. This State had
hardly recovered from the sweeping devastation of war
when drought swept over her rich prairies, and scarcely
had she recovered from that drawback when the grasshop-
pers came and desolated her again. Then the Macedonian
cry, "()ome over and help us," was heard and answered.
Again we raise this cry in behalf of this oppressed people,
and it will meet a generous response.
Wlien forty thousand dependents were thrown into
young Kansas by Price's raid through Missouri, followed
by Colonels James Lane and Jennison, I received from
General Curtis the report that twenty thousand poor whites
and as many freedmen were here to be cared for by
government and the benevolence of the North. At that
time of sore need Michigan placed in my hands two thor
500 A woman's life-work.
eand six hundred dollars in money, and from seven thou-
sand to eight thousand dollars in supplies to relieve the
perishing and dying of that day. The lesson is not forgot-
^ten, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. He
alone ivho knows the end from the beginning can tell the
future of our country, and of the five million of its inhab-
itants of African descent. Yet eternal right must and will
triumph. The debt our nation owes to the ex-slave should
be paid. The hundred thousand colored soldiers who
fought as bravely to save our nation's life as did their
paler-faced brethren, and faced the cannon's mouth as fear-
lessly for the prize above all price — liberfy — are worthy of
consideration. They were ever true to our soldiers. Many
of our prisoners escaping from rebel dungeons were piloted
by them into our lines. Many black "aunties" took their
last chicken and made broth for our sick Union soldiers,
as did the one I met in Natchez, Mississippi. She had
been free a number of years, and had her yard fiill of
geese, ducks, and chickens; but all went for Union sol-
diers. She was a noble Christian woman. She said, '*!
feels so sorrv for a sick soldier, so far from their home.
I feels happy for all I kin do for 'em. I knows Jesus pay
me." Another colored woman whom I met at Gloucester
Court-house, iu Virginia, did the same.
An ex-soldier wrote in a note, found in a box of val-
uable clothing sent to the refugees in EjEUssas: "I send this
as a small token of the gratitude I owe to the colored peo-
ple for saving my life when I was sick and escaping from
a loathsome rebel prison. They took care of me and con-
ducted me safely to our Union camp. This goes with a
prayer that Grod will bless that suffering people."
We have the testimony of many witnesses. Among
them is J. C. Hartzell, D. D., of New Orleans, editor of the
Sonthivestem Christian Advocate. He says, "The cruelties
endured by the colored people of the South txtn not be
"njerdraww." He knew of a number of families that took
PROTECTION NEEDED. 501
homesteads on government lands and were doing well for
themselves, but masked *' Bourbons'* went in a company
and drove them off, telling them they ''had no business
with homes of their own. The plantation was their place,
and there they should go." One man undertook to defend
himself and family with his gun, but receiving a serious
wound from one of the Bourbons, he hid from his pursu-
ers. One of his white friends heard of what had befallen
him, and took him to New Orleans for safety, as he knew
him to be an industrious and peaceable man. Here he
employed a skillful surgeon to treat him. Our informant
saw the bullet taken from his body, aud thought his life
could be saved. But he is sure to lose it if he returns to
his own home. Bev. J. C. Hartzell said he had received
letters from various places all over the South, written by
intelligent colored ministers, that their Churches were
closed against them until after election. The same thing
was told me by many of those I interviewed.
The Bourbons said their meetings were the hot-beds of
emigration and Republicanism. In some places they were
forbidden to meet in their private houses for prayer-meet-
ings, as their enemies said they met to make plans to go
to Kansas. Is there no guarantee for life, liberty, aud the
pursuit of happiness? What a state of society is this for a
free country? Our first duty as a government is protec-
tion. But if it is too weak for that, the second duty is to
welcome the fleeing refugee and point him to work, or to
the thousands of acres of good government land, aud help
him where he needs help to keep body and soul together
during the few months it may require to make himself
self-sustaining.
From Daniel Votaw's report from Independence, Kan-
sas, I extract the following: ''Thomas Bell, of Dallas
County, Texas, was hanged about October 5th for attempt-
ing to go with his family and a few neighbors to Kansas.
Blood and rapine mark the fugitive. After supper, fior*
502 A woman's life-work.
meal AirDuthed them for this purpose, they gave us a his-
tory of their trials in Texas, which was truly sorrowful;
and with the notes, mortgages, and credits given — to the
whole amount, two thousand five hundred dollars-^for
their farms, they were compelled to leave and flee for their
lives, as David did before Saul."
Shot-gun rule still continued. Philip Fauber, recently
from near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, testifies as follows: ''I
rented land of Bragg and James McNealy, and was to liave
one-third of the crop and furnish team and seed. I took
three bales of cotton to the weigher, who read my contract,
and set aside one bale for me. But the McNealys claimed
tlie three bales, and I referred the matter to the Justice
of the Peace, who, after reading the contract, sanctioned
the decision of the weigher. But the McNealys brought
another oflicer, who asked to see the contract I handed
him the paper, which he read and tore up and threw
away, and McNealy took possession of the last bale of cot-
ton, which I told them was my only dependence for my
family's support for the Winter. On my way home through
a little woods I received the contents of a shotgun in my
face, both eyes being put out. In great distress I felt my
way home. The doctor took a number of shot out of my
face, but he couldn't put my eyes back. I can now do
nothing but depend upon others to feed and clothe me till
Grod takes me from this dark world to that glorious world
of light and peace. The old man, McNealy denied shoot-
ing me, but he never said he did not know who did. But
he and his two sons died within a few months after I was
shot In the last sickness of Bragg McNealy he sent for
me to tell me for the last time that he did not shoot me.
Btill he would not tell who did." The industrious wife of
this \yoor man whose face is speckled with shot scars, is
anxious to get four or five acres of land to work herself,
and support herself and blind husband.
A. A. Lacy, an intelligent colored man from New
MICHAEL WAIJ3H. 503
Orleans, who came to us indorsed by a number of others
from the same city, testifies to the ^ts related by him as
follows: ''May 5, 1880, I called at the custom-house to
report for duty to General A. S. Badger, collector of cus-
toms, by whom I had been employed. He directed me to
Captain L. E. Balles, the chief weigher, to whom I had
reported a number of days, but failed to get work, and as
I fiiiled this time I asked if I had better continue calling
for work. He replied, *You had better call again.' As
I .was passing out of the door his partner, Michael Walsh,
came to me (in a gruff, commanding tone), 'What is that
you say. Lacy?' 'Nothing to you,' I replied; 'I was
speaking to Captain Salles.' At this he gave a stab, and
as I turned to see what he was hitting me for, he added
two stabs more with cursing. As I was going down the
steps I felt the warm blood running down my side, not
yet realizing that I had been cut. I opened my vest and
saw the flowing blood. I stepped into Mr. Blanchard's
office, the ascdstant weigher, who was a Republican, and
showed him my side, with clothes saturated with blood.
He was so shocked and excited that he was taken ill and
died in just two weeks. He advised me to enter a com-
plaint against Michael Walsh, which I did, and he was'
placed in jail in default of thousand dollar bond. I was
sent to the hospital. As there were many friends and
reporters calling on me, the surgeon forbade callers except
immediate attendants and my wife. He said the deepest
wound reached the lefl lung, and an eighth of an inch
deeper would have produced instant death. On the tenth
day I was allowed to be removed to my home, and pro-
nounced to be convalescent Michael Walsh was released
from prison with no other mark of displeasure resting
upon him for this attempt at murder than a few days'
imprisonment. As soon as I was able to walk about I
took a boat with friends whose lives had been threatened
for Kansas, where we arrived July 15, 1880. I am only
504 A woman's life^-work.
able to do light work for which I am thankful. Yet it
seems hard to lose all this time irom the assassin's stab in
a custom-house that belongs to the goyemment I fought
two years to sustain.*
Uncle Peter Cox, an aged man of eighty-eight years,
has a wen on the 1)ack of his neck, running between his
shoulders, larger than a two^uart bowl, that has been
over thirty years coming. It was caused by heavy lifting
and continued hard work during his slave-life. He came
to Topeka, Kansas, in July, 1880, with his aged wife and
deaf and dumb grandson of eighteen years. His advanced
age and deformity induced me to inquire more closely into
the cause of leaving his State (Louisiana). After giving
the sad history of his slave-life — the common lot of that
class of goods and chattels— he said: "Missus I stayed thar
as long as I could, when I seed my brodder in de Lo'd
hangin* on a tree not more*n a hundred rods from my
house, near Baton Bouge. A sistah was hanged five miles
off, on de plauk road, in West Baton Rouge, in a little
woods. Her sistah followed her beggin* for her life, and
tole de buUdosers she could u*t tell whar her husban* was
that da 8 gwine to hang. But da swore she should hang if
she didn't tell." Giving his head a shake, while tears
dropped thick and fast down the deeply furrowed cheeks,
he continued: "O, Missus, I couldn't live thar no longer.
Ts so distressed day an' night De chief captain of tlis
l)an' of murder's was Henry Castle, who wid his ban' of
men was supported by Mr. Garrett, Mr. Fisher, an' Mr.
Washington, who were merchants in Baton Rouge."
But that poor grandfather's heart was filled with grief
to overflowing when the faithful grandson was walking
alone in the railroad track, and was run over by the cars
and instantly killed. Although the warning whistle was
given the poor deaf boy heard it not. As he was all the
aged pair had to depend upon for their li\nng, it was to
them a lieavy stroke. No one can look over these testi*
OTHER TESTIMONIES. 505
monies without exclaiming, with David, "Is there not a
cause" for the flight of this persecuted people? We find
many among them, like Lazarus, begging for the crumbs
that fall from the rich man's table ; but let us not allow
them to die in this land of 2)lent7.
During three weeks in July, 1879, spent in Kansas, I
interviewed many of the eight hundred and thirty-four
recent arrivals in that State from the &r South, and found
one continued train of sad recitals of wrongs and outrages
equal to the darkest spots that ever stained the history of
savage life. A. W. Armour, of Ejinsas City, Missouri, who
bad taken much interest in assisting these refugees, believed
there had been eight thousand arrivals of these people
since March. The query arises, Why this stampede? why
this unlooked-for emigration? We answer. Go to these
hundreds and thousands and listen to their story of the
increasing oppressions practiced upon them, the most bar-
barous murders, committed so frequently that intelligent
colored men in many localities know not when they retire
at night but they may be called out of their beds and
hung or shot ere the dawn of another day, and here the
answer is found. Of such testimonies we add a few more.
Mary Clark had been two weeks from New Orleans.
She says, ''Tax man make me pay three dollars for my
license for washin' for people. My ole man had to hide
away for his life till he get a boat; an' we lef all behin',
'ease two men shot dead a few days afore we lef. One
man standin' in his own yard, an' de bullet shot over some
o' de people's heads standin' in de church yard next his
house, an' struck de wall o' de church, an' fell on de
groun'. Some of our people picked it up all battered."
An exHsoldier and a few other neighbors of Dickie Smith
said he was called out of his bed at two o'clock in the
darkness of night, a rope slipped over his head and tied to
a horse's tail, and he was dragged across ridges to the
nearest woods, where the dead body was hung to a tree
506 A woman's life-work.
because he refused to report the colored people in Gandk
parish.
Marj Crawford, over one hundred years old, said:
'*I'se had heap of upe an* downs. Great many years ago
my husban' sole away; some chillen sole oflT; neber know
where da went When de war free us, had two lef '. My
baby goin' on seventy; he's here." This was spoken in a
low, sad wail, indicative of a life of sorrow. Her son was
sufiering from rheumatism from a month's exposure on the
bank of the river waiting for a boat that would bring
them. Said his wife, **We hailed all de boats dat i>aaSy
an' show 'em de money one time, au' da say, *No, we can 't
take you; planters gib us three hundred dollars dis trip
not to take niggers Norf.' ]\Iy ole man was gettiu' might-
ily crippled up, out so long in chilly nights. When we
got here we had jus' eight dollars lefl ; dat I paid for dis
little house for a month to get under shelter, for mother
got sore throat from cole. If me an' chillen can get someiin'
to do afore dis month is out we'll get on again. But da is
shootin' an' hangin' so fas' back dar we packed up an'
got away."
Said a white man, as he stood looking over this group,
"What did these old people come for? they can't do any
good." The quick reply was, ** We couldn't leave our
fathers and mothers back thar for Keg'lators to kill, an'
not know whar nor how they dies." This answer is suffi-
cient excuse for all the old people they bring.
It is astonishing to see the insults heaped upon these
* ignorant people. A stranger came to these ex-soldiers who
left the service without back pay, professing to be a lawyer
authorize<l to take their discharge papers and collect it for
them. Fifteen of these men gave him their papers. One
of them called for a receipt for his, though assured, as
were all the others, that the papers with their money
would be given them the following week. But neither the
Uwyer nor the papers nor the money was ever heard from
CRUEL TREATMENT. 507
afterwards. Another swindler came to the soldiers and
offered for sale a peculiar badge that he said, if pi-esented
in Kansas, would be sufficient to secure eighty or one hun-
dred and sixty acres of good land, and great effort was
made to secure it. One man sold his cow for two dollars
to get enough to purchase the valued badge. Several
hundred dollars were thus taken by him before he came
to one intelligent enough to expose the fraud, and then
he left them.
It seemed quite a general testimony among these peo-
ple that they were better treated the first year or two after
the war closed than at any time since, and that loss of life
had since then increased perceptibly. One man and his
three sons, who had been soldiers, carried with them their
discharge papers and were strong Republicans. They were
offered two dollars each if they would vote the Democratic
ticket; but they refused, and told the man who offered the
money that they were not ready to sell themselves. But
he Fftid it was only voting for iheir home government,
and it was their duty to vote the Southern ticket. Then
assuming a threatening attitude he went on, "We are
going to clean out all these Republicans before the next
election.'' A few nights after this threat all four were
called out in the dead of night and hung. This was in the
Red River section.
Wliile listening to this account I was reminded of the
remarks of an ex-slaveholder in telling me of a new-fash-
ioned gag made with barbs similar to those on fish-hooks,
that pierced the tongue so l>adly that she knew a man on
Samuel La/s plantation, on Red River, that was found
dead in the morning from wearing one during the night.
"Wiy, you Northerners have no idea of the hell upon
earth this Red River countr}' is." And it seems that the
reconstruction brush has done but little on Red River can-
vas since I was there amid booming cannons and clash of
arms in 1863-4.
608 A woman's life work.
One woman from that section told me, '^ De agent say
he gwine to put us all in purgatory." I thought they had
got them in already by her reports, and kept them there,
until they made their escape.
"One man with his wife worked twenty-five acres on
the widow Garner's place. Her son, Richard Gamer, was
her agent, and had a fair prospect of a good crop. When
he heard we talked of going North he brought an officer
to take possession of all we had to prevent our going. Our
wagon cost us one hundred and ten dollars; we paid for
our horse one hundred and thirty dollars, and for our
four plows thirty-four dollars. After he had taken all we
had he then pretended we owed him four dollars more.
We left and then worked by the day until we got eight
dollars that brought us to St. Louis, and the kind people
there paid our fare here. God bless 'em forever, I pray.
If we keep well, in a year or two we'll get us a little home
of our own." This seems to be the height of their
ambition.
In some places planters are making new arrangements
by having them sign articles of agreement to work the
same plantation the next year or forfeit this year's crop.
But it is apparent that no contract, however binding,
will hold them there, unless they remove this iron rod of
oppression which now rests so heavily upon them. Their
policy of striking terror to their hearts is failing. Increas-
ing barbarities will not bring tame submission. One man
from Louisiana, near Biitou Rouge, who was an honorably
discharged soldier, reports that he cut one man down that
must have been hung a number of days before. In this
company there were a number of witnesses who went to
the woods to behold the awful scene reported by their
friend. They reix>rted also another act still more barbar-
ous, committed by a drinking rabble who first hung a poor
colored man and then cut him into pieces, scattering his
limbs in different directions in the woods for the wild
CHARLIE ROBISON. 609
beasts to devour. In listening to these demoniac deeds the
blood seemed to curdle in my veins, and I cried out, ** How
long, O Lord, how long?"
But a few more instances we will give and close this
painful record. A number of men and women reported
that Charlie Robison was a nice, quiet man. His wife did
not know of his having a difference with any one. "But
as de Regulators swore da kill de las' Republican afore de
next 'lection we spose dat was all. We lived near Baton
Rouge. Charlie was workin' rented Ian', an' his wife went
in de fiel* dat day to help 'im. On goiu' in for supper he
put his ban's on her shoulder an' said : 'Now, Babe [his pet
name for his wife], I want you to wake me up right early
in de mornin', case I want to feed de mules an' get in de
fiel' right soon.' After enterin' the house his wife said :
* There, Charlie, I forgot my basket I lef by de fence.'
'Never min'. Babe, I'll go an' get it after supper when the
team is fed.' They both went, an' she said da talk a long
time, after the chillens all asleep, 'bout what they'd do nex'
Christmas, an' what happen last Christmas week, ^t two
o'clock dat night a loud rap on de door wake 'em, an'
Charlie say, 'What's wan tin'?* 'Wc want Charlie Rob-
ison.' 'Who's thar?' 'No matter who's here; we want
Charlie.' His wife clingin' to 'im, beggin' 'Don't go,
Charlie; da's Regulators, da' 11 kill you.' The urgent call
came with bitter oaths and cursing with threats, 'Come
out here, or we'll kerosene your house and burn you all
up.' The trembliu' man went for de door an' jus* open it
a little, an' da say, ' Do n't stan' thar, or we '11 throw kero-
sene over you an' bum you up in a minute.' Amid cries
of his wife, beggin' ' Do n't kill Charlie,' an' he sayin'
'Now, you won't hang me away from my poor wife an'
three little chillen, will you?' they cursed an' said, 'Who
said we are going to hang you T An' da hauled him out
an' dragged him away while beggin' for his life. As soon
as it was light enough to sec she come to us to go wid her
610 A woman's life-work.
to bunt Charlie. As we went the way she heard 'im last,
we seed 'im hangin' on a little tree in de edge of de woods;
his back was to us till we got up to 'im, an' it peared like
he knew his poor wife dar, wringin' her ban's and cryin' for
'im, for as soon as we got up to 'im be turned squar' round
wid bis face to 'er. And, O, what a sight! His tongue
hung out over his chin, an' eyeballs on his cheeks! *0
Charlie, my Charlie, my Charlie,' she cried; *God have
mercy !" Dis was Monday night, an' de nex' Sunday da
hung Jonathan Jackson, an' two week after da bung
Stephen Bray."
We rej)eat, is it a marvel that this sorely oppressed
people risk suffering in a colder climate when life for them
is so uncertain? O how vividly these thrilling recitals
brought the Red Sea of war to view. Surely its tributaries
arc flowing still. The query why they are not better able
to care for themselves when they reach our Northern States
is finally answered in the cloud of oppression that has so
long hung over that crushed race.
The majority of those I interviewed were of the Meth-
odist and Baptist persuasions. They have great faith that
the Lord is leading in a way they know not, and that King
Jesus is opening the prison door for them as surely as he
opened the prison door for Paul and Silas. Let all who de-
sire to lend to the Lord by giving to his poor send material
aid to Governor John P. St. John, Topeka, Kansas, who has
drawn around him like benevolent spirits. They have done,
and are still doing, what they can to relieve the poorest of
the poor of these refugees who have sought a " house of
refuge " in that young State of Kansas.
Yet, through all these dark clouds we perceive the
silver linings. The heaven-born cause of temperance is
gaining a foothold in our Southern States. A crusade
against the liquor-traffic commenced in Ohio, and has swept
over Michigan and otlicr neighboring States, and is still
A)iug on conquering and to conquer.
PBOSPECTB OF THE FBEEDMEK. 511
Chapter XIX.
PROSPECTS OF THE FREEDMEN.
Our last chapter contains the dark side of our picture.
In this we present the brighter prospects for a long and
sorely oppressed race. We first note what has been and
is being done for the sixty thousand who have emigrated
to Kansas. As I have been a co-laborer with Elizabeth
L. Comstock more than two years in rescuing the perishing
in their new homes, I speak from personal knowledge.
During the first Winter — 1879-80 — as mild as it was,
more than one hundred refugees were found with frozen feet
aud fingera. Five were frozen to death in coming through
the Indian Territory with their teams. Through faithful
agents, with supplies forwarded from other States, and even
from friends in England in response to appeals sent out by
Elizabeth L. Comstock, very many sufferers were relieved.
The goods from England were forwarded mostly by James
Clark, of Street. Over seventy thousand dollars' worth of
supplies have passed through our hands for the relief of
the refugees between September,! 879, when we commenced
working for them, atid March, 1881. Thirteen thousand
dollars of this amount came from England, having been
sent by Friends or Quakers. Besides money, we received
new goods, as follows :
Warm, new blankets, 2,000
New garments for women and girls, 5,000
New garments for men and boys, 3,000
Kew garments for babies and small children, 5,500
New knitted socks and hose, five hundred dozen pairs, . 6,000
Large quantity of sheets, pillow-cases, bed-quilts, tow-
els, etc., 3,000
Qneensware.— -Six large crates, one hundred and nineteen
dozen plates in each, 8^""
512 A woman's life-wobk.
Cups and saucers, nearly 6,000
Bowls and mugs, 4,000
Platters, pitchera, and chamber wares, 3,500
Scissors, 6,000
Sets of knives and forks, 4,000
Spoons, 8,000
Needles, 15,000
•Knitting-needles, 2,500
Hags with sewing materials, 2,500
Papers of pins, six hundred and fifty dozen, and tape, 350, 1,000
Tin-cups and basins, 6,000
Be<l-tick8, 1,500
Wasli-dishes and pans, r 2.000
Woolen dresses for women and girls, valued at $1,080
New overcoats for men and boys, valued at $650
Three whole bolts of Welch flannel (seventy-two yards
each), $150
Two bolts heavy broadcloth, for overcoats, valued at . . $144
Women's cloaks and shawls, valued at $2,250
New reil flannel, valued at $150
Muslins, valued at . * $150
Gray flannel and three hundred pairs mittens, valued at $500
Buttons, hooks and e^es, cotton thread, silk, etc., .... $500
New pieces goods, chiefly cotton, valued at $5,000
Over niuety thousand dollars in money and supplies
were distributed by the Kansas Relief Association, until it
was disbanded iu May, 1881, and its head-quarters removed
to Southern Kansas, where thousands of these Southern
emigrants are congregated. That locality is more &Yorable
to cotton raising. Many of the refugees know but little of
other business; hence the necessity for an agricultural,
industrial, and educational institute, of which Elizabeth L.
Comstock is the founder. At the present date (August,
1881) eight thousand dollars are invested. This includes
the Homestead Fund. To meet the crying need of this
I>cople she, in connection with her daughter, Caroline De-
Green, are untiring in their efforts to establish a perma-
nent or systematized work. They have established this
much needed institution on four hundred acres of good
land, which is tilled by colored people, who receive pay for
their work in provision, clothing, or money until they can
purchase cheap land for their own homes.
It has been no small task to disburse wisely the large
NORTHERN OUTRAGES. 613
supplies sent from every Northern State and England in
various portions of the State of Kansas. It has been done
through the instrumentality of self-sacrificing men and
women. The noble women of Topeka did their full share.
They districted the city, appointed a large investigating
committee, and gave tickets calling for the articles most
needed in the families found in a sufiering condition. By
this plan impositions were avoided.
While we have entered bitter complaints against our
Southern ex-slave States, we ought to call to mind many
persecutions endured by the opponents of slavery in our
own States of the Korth. I have still in remembrance the
many mobs to which abolitionists were exposed for discuss-
ing their views. I have not forgotten the burning shame
and disgrace upon our whole North because of the treat*
ment it allowed to an earnest Christian philanthropist,
Prudence Crandall, of Windham County, Connecticut.
She opened a school in Canterbury Green for girls, and
was patronized by the best families, not only of that town,
but of other counties and States. Among those who sought
the advantages of her school was a colored girl. But
Prudence was too thorough a Quaker to regard the request
of bitter prejudice on the part of her other patrons to dis-
miss her colored pupil. But she did not wait for them to
execute their threat to withdraw their children. She sent
them home. Then she advertised her school as a boarding
school for young ladies of color.
The people felt insulted, and held indignation meetings
and appointed committees to remonstrate with her. But
she stood by her principles regardless of their remonstrance.
The excitement in that town ran high. A town meetiug
wafi called to devise means to remove the nuisance. In
1833 Miss Crandall opened her school against the protest
of an indignant populace. Another town meeting was
called, at which it was resolved, ''That the establishment
of a rendezvous, falsely denominated a school, was designed
614 A woman's LIFE-WOKIJ.
by ita projectors as the theater to promulgate their disgust-
ing theory of amalgamation and their peruieious seDtiments
of subverting the Union. These pupils were to have been
cougregated here from all quarters under the false pretense
of educating them, but really to scatter fire-brands, arrows,
and death among brethren of our own blood."
I well remember the voice of more than seven thousand,
even at that day, who had never bowed the knee to the
Baal of slavery that was raised in favor of the course pur-
sued by the noble woman. Against one of these young col-
ored girls the people were about to enforce ^n old vagrant
law, requiring her to give security for her maintenance
on penalty of \yeing whipped on the naked body. Thus
they required her to return to her home in Pi-ovidence,
Canterbury did its best to drive Prudence from her post.
Her neighbors refused to give her fresh water from their
wells, though they knew their own sons had filled her well
with stable refuse. Her father was threatened with mob-
violence. An appeal was sent to their Legislature, and
that body of wise men devised a wicked enactment which
they called law, which was brought to bear upon her par-
ents on this wise: An order was sent to her father, in sub-
stance, as follows: "Mr. Crandall, if you go to visit your
daugliter you are to ]ye fined one hundnsd dollars for the
first offense, two hundred dollars for the second offense,
doubling the amount every time. Mrs. Crandall, if you
go there you will be fined, and your daughter, Almira,
will be fined, and Mr. May, and those gentlemen fnmi
Providence [Messrs. George and Henr}' Benson], if they
come here, will be fined at the same rate. And your
daughter, the one that has established the school for col-
ored females, will be taken up the same way as for stealing
a horse or for burglary. Her property will not be taken,
but she will ]ye put in jail, not having tlie liberty of the
yard. There is no mercy to be shown aliout it."
Soon af^er this Miss Crandall was arrested and taken
PBOGBESS OF FREEDOM. 616
to jail for an alleged ofTense. Her trial resulted in an
acquittal, but her establishment was persecuted by every
conceivable insult. She and her school were «btit out from
attendance at the Congregational Church, and religious
services held in her own house were interrupted by volleys
of rotten eggs and other missiles. At length the house
was set on fire, but the blaze was soon extinguished.
In 1834, on September 9th, just as the &mily was
-retiriog for the night, a body of men with iron bars sur-
rounded the house, and simultaneously beat in the windows
and doors. This shameful outrage was more than they
could endure. Prudence Crandall was driven at last to
close her interesting school and send her pupils home.
Then another town meeting was held, a sort of glorifica-
tion, justifying themselves, and praising their Legislature
for passing the law for which they asked. All this abom-
inable outrage I well remember, and am glad to see it
called up in Scribner's Magazitie for December, 1880. A
scathing denunciation of the outrage was published in the
Boston TAberatory edited by William Lloyd Garrison.
Prudence Crandall did more for the cause of freedom
by her persistence in the ** Higher Law" doctrine of eternal
right than the most eloquent antislavery lectuver could
have accomplished in molding public sentiment of the
whole North. Her name became a household word in
thousands of Northern homes. When we see the changes
forty and fitty years have wrought in the North, surely
we may look forward in strong faith for like changes to
take place over the South. It may take longer, but come
it will.
We note with pleasure the rapid strides of education
among the colored people in sixteen years. In 1864-5 I
visited large schools in slave-pens that had become useless
for the purposes for which they were designed. The stumps
of their whipping -posts and the place of the dreaded
auction block was vacated. Although many of their pub^'
61G A woman's ijfe-work.
school? are not all that could be desired, yet they have them,
and they are doing a good work. In Virginia, beginniug
with 1871, the colored children enrolled for successive years
numbered as follows: 38,554; 46,736; 49,169; 54,945;
62,178; 65,043; 61,772; and 35,768. In South Carolina
the enrollment from 1870 was, 15,894; 38,635; 46,535;
56,249; 63,415; 70,802; 55,952; 62.120; and 64,095.
In Mississippi, beginning with 1875, the enrollment was
89,813; 90,178; 104,777; and 111,796. At the present
we foot up the astonishing number of 738,164 pupils.
Maryland has appropriated two thousand dollars per annum
for the support of normal schools for the training of col-
ored teachers. An ex-Confederate and ex-slave-holder of
high degree subscribed five thousand dollars toward a col-
lege for colored {people under the {mtrouage of one of the
colored Churches in the State of Georgia. All honor is due
such noble deeds. May there be more to follow his good
example.
From the best authorities we have the figures of over
a million communicants among the colored people in the
United States. Of those in the Southern States we have
as follows, at this date, 1881 :
African Methodists, 214,808
Methodist Episcopal Church (Colored), . 112,000
Colored Baptist Church, .500.000
Methodist Episcopal Zion Churcli, .... 190,000
Methodist Episcopal Church, 300,000
Almost every Church in the North has contributed to
educational purpf)ses in the South, but they are doing none
too much. The Friends have done much toward support-
ing a school in Helena, Arkansas, under the suiiervisiou
of Lida Clark, an untiring worker for that people. But
we have not the figures of amounts. But the Methodist
Episcopal Church has done, and is still doing, a great work,
as our figures will show, in building commodious school-
bouses in various States.
MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE, NASHVILLE. T
freedmen's schootjb.
517
Schools of the Freed men's Aid Society of the Methcxlist
Episcopal Church for 1880-81 :
CHARTERED IXSTITUTIOXB.
Central Tennessee College, Nashville, Tenn.,
Clark University, Atlanta, Ga.,
Claflin University, Orangeburg, S. C, . . .
New Orleans University, New Orleans, La.,
Rhaw University, Holly Springs, Miss., . .
Wiley University, Marshall, Texas, ....
THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS.
Centenary Biblical Institute, Baltimore, Md.
•Baker Institute, Orangeburg, S. C, . . . .
•Thomson Biblical Institute, N. Orleans, La.,
MEDICAL COLLECiE.
Mebary Medical College, Nashville, Tenn., .
IXSTITCTIOXS XOT CHARTERED.
Bennett Seminary, Greensboro, N. C, . .
Cookman Institute, Jacksonville, Fla., . .
Haven Normal School, Waynesboro, Ga.,
La Grange Seminary, La Grange, Ga., . .
Meridian Academy, Meridian, Miss., . .
Rust Normal School, Huntsville, Ala., . .
Walden Seminary, Little Rock, Ark., . .
West Texas Conf. Seminary, Austin, Tex.
La Teche Seminary, La Teche, La., . . .
West Tennessee Seminary, Mason, Tenn.,
TJCACIIKRS.
PUPILS.
12
433
7
176
9
388
4
200
8
277
6
323
4
118
«• •
8
35
5
150
5
im
2
(50
2
m
2
100
3
112
2
60
3
101
3
100
2
75
We must here put in our claim for the sixty thousand
emigrants in Kansas from the South. The Freedmen's
Relief work in Kansas has been thoroughly organized and
officered, and the contributions received for the refugees
judiciously distributed. Ad agricultural and industrial
school was established some time ago, and is meeting, so
far, with good success. It will, if properly sustained, prove
to be a blessing not only to the colored race, but to the
State. From a circular issued in June last, by Elizabeth
L. Comstock, one of the superintendents of this work, I
extract the following paragraphs:
'*Our first object is to employ those who come for work
* Pupils eniiraernted In the oilier scliools.
518 A WOMAK^S I^TFE-WORK.
or for aid. We are strongly advised by their best friends,
and the kind donors both sides the Atlantic, not. to give
any thing (except in return for labor) to those who are
able to work, especially during the warm weather. Wages
are paid regularly every Saturday, and they come with
their money to buy and select from the stock oq hand
what will suit themselves. 8econd«hand clothing and bed-
ding have a price affixed almost nominal. Coats, 10 cents
each to $1, very few at $1; jiants, drawers, shirts, and
vests, 5 cents each; shoes, 5 cents a pair; stockings and
socks, two pairs for 5 cents; women's dresses, 10, 20, 30,
and 40 cents each ; children's clothes, 5 to 10 cents a gar-
ment; bed-quilts, comforters, and blankets, 20 to 50 cents;
new ones, $1 each, if very good. New shoes and other
articles, provisions, etc., that we have to purchase we buy
at wholesale, and try to supply them below the market
price, some of them at half the retail price. Thus what
little is gained on the old clothes makes up in part what
we lose on the new. We could employ more laborers if we
had more money. The state of the treasury is low now.
It seems hard to turn away any poor people who want to
work. We should be very glad of help just now in the
way of seed for sowing, money to provide food and shelter,
Hnd to finish up our buildings. We greatly desire to start
several industries before Winter, as blacksmith's shop,
carpenter's shop, broom factory, etc., etc., that they may
have work during the cold weather. We hope to have
our school-house soon ready and to educate the children,
and have an evening school for adults.
**An important part of our work will be to train the
women and girls in the various branches of household
work, and sewing, knitting, etc. Nor do we lose sight of
the spiritual garden while providing for the intellectual
fields and the physical wants. We greatly desire that this
long-oppressed race, who have been kept in darkness and
ignorance, should have the light of the glorious Gospel,
INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE. 519
and should have the Bible put into their liandr., aiid be
taught to read and understand it. Of course Ave meet Avith
some opposition in our work, as many a brave soldier has
done before us, in battling for the right and for the col-
ored race.**
We extract an item from the Columbus Courier (Kan-
sas): **We are proud of the work of the 'Agricultural,
Industrial, and' Educational Institute,' and earnestly desire
its success, and we feel proud of these good men and
women who are led on by Mrs. Elizabeth L. Comstock at
their head, and Mrs. Laura S. Haviland, their 8ecretar}\
Characteristic spirits of the broad philanthropy of our
beloved land, they need no commendation to sustain them.
This has been their life-work, and they now select our
State for their field of labor. J. E. Pickering was chosen
from a body of eighteen directors as its president, because
<>f his experience in this kind of work, having at one time
lx!cn a conductor on the * Under Ground.' He does not
receive or ask for salary. He only presides at meetings
of the Board of Directors, and has general oversight of the
work in progress. His son, Lindly, was selected by the
Board according to the expressed wish of Mrs. Comstock
as su2)erintendent. His wife is actbg in the capacity of
matron, but neither of them receives a salary, and they
are to be paid by some friends of the work when it is
established. But now pay is a matter of no consideration.
Charity does not require that these people should leave
their comfortable homes and devote their time and energies
to the laborious duties of their positions without some
reward. Forty acres of the four hundred upon which the
institute is located was purchased of Lindly M. Pickering,
at one hundred dollars less than he could otherwise have
obtained for it. It was selected for its improvements and
its fine location, unsurpassed in the country. In conclu-
sion, we desire to refer to the good management with
which without ostentation its affairs are vigorously pushed
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